Coming Events and Recent News

Branch Technical Meeting – St Lawrence Branch
Branch Technical Meeting – St Lawrence Branch
June 10, 2025
DATE: TUESDAY, 10 JUNE 2025
TIME: 12:00 Eastern
VIRTUAL: To Join the CLICK HERE
Decarbonizing Shipping
presented by Johannes Lauterbach, Dr.-Ing,
Head of Business Development & Digitalization, Marine Four-Stroke & License
Abstract:
The presentation addresses the challenges and opportunities of decarbonizing maritime shipping. It touches on different pathways (fuels, exhaust, efficiency) with a focus on fuels in particular.
Different technical realization options for various fuel alternatives will be shown, along their individual challenges and benefits, implications for vessels and applicability.
Additionally, the exhaust pathway of GHG emissions will be detailed, putting some focus especially on managing CH4 emissions in shipping, the basic mechanisms and options to reduce their impact.
Speaker: Johannes Lauterbach, Dr.-Ing./ Head of Business Development & Digitalization, Marine Four-Stroke & License
Johannes has fifteen (15) years of experience in engineering and product management of medium speed four-stroke combustion engines. Specializing in product portfolio development for long-term market requirements.
Experience in marine strategies for special markets, four-stroke engine technology, decarbonization, autonomous operation, carbon capture in shipping.

Atlantic Branch – Shipbuilders and Marine Golf Tournament
The Atlantic Branch is participating in the Shipbuilders and Marine Golf Tournament taking place June 12, 2025 at the Chester Golf and Country Club. The branch is putting in a team of 4 and will cover 50% of the entrance fee. If you are interested in participating, please download the registration form HERE.
Great Lakes Branch Annual Golf Tournament
Register for the Great Lakes Annual Golf Tournament taking place Friday June 13, 2025 at Rolling Meadows Golf & Country Club, Niagara Falls.
RSVP before June 6 at cimareglb@gmail.com

Branch Meeting May – Atlantic
Branch Meeting May – Atlantic
May 2025
DATE: THURSDAY, May 15, 2025
TIME: 1200 noon Atlantic Time
LOCATION: Brightwood Golf Club
TITLE: FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTMS – SUPPORTABILITY INTO THE FUTURE
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Conventional Gas-Based Systems (FM-200 and FK-5-1-12 / Novec)
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Viable and Environmentally Friendly Alternatives
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Inert Gas Systems (IG-541)
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Water Mist Systems (Hi-Fog)
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Aerosol Suppression (FirePro)
RSVP
Travis Franklin,
Secretary, Atlantic Branch
travisfranklin67@gmail.com

Branch Event- Atlantic Branch
Branch Event – Atlantic
Battle of the Atlantic Ceremony
May 4, 2025
DATE: SUNDAY, 04 May 2025
TIME: 1025 hrs
LOCATION: Halifax Memorial, Point Pleasant Park
Battle of the Atlantic Memorial – May 4, 2025
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest and one of the most critical naval campaigns of the Second World War, spanning from 1939 to 1945. This campaign was a strategic struggle for control of the North Atlantic, where Allied forces relied heavily on maritime supply routes to transport essential personnel and materials from North America to Europe. German U-boats relentlessly targeted Allied merchant convoys in an effort to disrupt these lifelines, while the Allies responded with coordinated convoy defenses, submarine-hunting tactics, and the development of advanced anti-submarine technologies.
To honour those who served and sacrificed, the annual Battle of the Atlantic Memorial will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at the Halifax Memorial in Point Pleasant Park.
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Serving and retired members of the armed forces are asked to attend in No. 1 dress with medals.
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All other attendees are kindly requested to wear business attire.
Please RSVP by April 30, 2025 to 902-427-2342 or marlantsovp@forces.gc.ca.
We hope you will join us in paying tribute to the brave individuals who played a vital role in this defining campaign.

Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
April 2025
DATE: WEDNESDAY EVENING, 16 April 2025
TIME: 1900
LOCATION: IN THE LOWER WARDROOM AT NADEN, ON THE ESQUIMALT NAVY BASE
It will be a combined “INFORMATION MEETING” and our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
The “Information meeting” will bring members up-to-date on recent National Council and Branch Developments.
The “AGM” will be focused on our Branch activities and executive committee composition.
See the details of our nomination process below
After the business meetings are completed, we’ll be treated to two National Film Board films arranged by Brian Merz “SAFE ESCORT” from the CCG archives and “QUIET FORCES”, from the RCN archives.
Also, A free drink ticket will be issued for each attendee.
The meeting will convene at 1900 on Wednesday, 16 April @ 1900, in the lower lounge of the Naden Officer’s Wardroom (near the dockyard entrance, at 1586 Esquimalt Rd)
Members often arrive early to share conversations with colleagues.
Spouses and guests are always welcome at our Branch meetings!
Meetings have a question and answer period at the end.
Bill Wallace,
Communications Coordinator, for the executive committee
250-661-7369
Historical Events

Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
March 2025
DATE: WEDNESDAY EVENING, 19 March 2025
TIME: 1900
LOCATION: IN THE LOWER WARDROOM, HMC DOCKYARD
We will have a presentation by Jamie Webb, Director of the Maritime Museum of BC. “The Maritime Museum of BC is dedicated to sharing our maritime heritage and celebrating our oceans!” No mean task! Jamie will have elements of BC’s rich maritime history as anecdotes woven throughout his presentation.
Jamie started his marine career with a four-year apprenticeship program in Rigging and Sail making. He worked for the Royal Canadian Navy for 20 years, becoming their Senior Protocol Officer. He has been a Naval Reserve Officer and an instructor with the Sea Cadet Program since 1983.
The meeting will convene at 1900 on Wednesday, 19 March @ 1900, in the lower lounge of the Naden Officer’s Wardroom (near the dockyard entrance, at 1586 Esquimalt Rd)
Members often arrive early to share conversations with colleagues. Spouses and guests are always welcome at our Branch meetings! Meetings have a question and answer period at the end.
Bill Wallace,
Communications Coordinator, for the executive committee
250-661-7369

Branch Meeting – Ottawa
Branch Meeting – Ottawa
February 2025
TITLE: BELZONA SOLUTIONS IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY
DATE: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025
TIME: 18:30 TO 21:00 EST (09:00 PST, 13:00 AST 13:30 NDT)
VENUE: Rideau Canal Junior Ranks Mess – Danaca Board Room
Access to the Danaca Board Room can be done through the side door of the building, up a short flight of stairs, through the door and turn right to the elevator, the Danaca room is on the third floor. Parking is available and please park on the canal side of the parking lot. We will have the room from 18:30 to 21:00 hrs. and a cash bar will be provided. A map showing the location of the Mess is attached for your convenience.
ABSTRACT
The topic of this paper will be Belzona Solutions in the Marine Industry and the paper will be touching on the following topics:
- Onboard Solutions: Valves & pipes, Pumps, Heat exchangers, Filters, Tanks, Wet spaces, General repairs
- Dry Dock Solutions: Bow Thrusters, Rudder, Kort Nozzle, Tail Shaft, Stern Tube, Engine Block, Fender.
SPEAKER:
This paper will be presented by Mr. Jon Ferrer who is the Technical Sales Manager for Belzona Great Lakes Division.
Mr. Ferrer is a chemical engineer with a degree from the University of Ottawa and a technical diploma in Electromechanical Engineering – Technician Robotics from Algonquin College. He began his career with Belzona Inc. in 2016 as a Technical Sales Engineer and is now part of the Belzona Great Lakes team, focusing specifically on the Ontario province.
Throughout his time with Belzona, Mr. Ferrer has provided both remote and on-site engineering support to Belzona’s American network of distributors and technical consultants. He now works directly with asset owners and consultants across various industries, including oil and gas, petrochemical, pulp and paper, mining and quarrying, marine, water and wastewater, and general manufacturing. His role also involves writing product specifications for Belzona applications and contributing articles to several industry-focused magazines and newsletters.

Branch Meeting – St Lawrence
Branch Meeting – St Lawrence
February 2025
DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025
TIME: 12:00 EST (09:00 PST, 13:00 AST 13:30 NDT)
TO JOIN: CLICK HERE
ABSTRACT
The marine industry is moving to decarbonize as emissions reduction and climate goals become more important each year. Big shifts to alternative fuels and major infrastructure changes may be coming, but there are options available to ship owners right now which can provide both immediate emissions reductions and ROI through fuel savings and lower running hours on equipment, among other benefits.
The presentation will provide an overview of two such studies – retrofit of shore power systems and Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) for bulk carriers trading on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. While both technologies are well understood, comprehensive feasibility studies for their implementation in this region, with its unique challenges and opportunities, are new. The presentation will explain two of these studies being undertaken by ABS and Algoma Central Corporation thanks to funding from Transport Canada, the work completed to date, and early results.
SPEAKER:
Matthyw Thomas
Senior Program Manager / Principal Engineer
Short Bio
Matthyw is a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the Canadian Marine industry. He is a technical capability builder and subject matter expert specializing in harsh marine environment regulatory, operational, and design analysis, and advanced systems modeling. He has been with ABS since 2023, delivering programs for customers across the marine government, commercial, and NGO domains.

Branch Meeting February – Atlantic
Branch Meeting February – Atlantic
February 2025
DATE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
TIME: 1200 noon Atlantic Time
LOCATION: Brightwood Golf Club
Paul Jamer, President of Helm Management Services, will share a presentation on the current vessel life extension for the CCG Terry Fox.
The CCG Terry Fox vessel life extension project is being conducted by Ontario Shipyards in St Catherines and the vessel has been in the yard since April 2024. A large multitasked icebreaker, the ship is capable of sustained operations in the Arctic archipelago over the summer months and icebreaking escort operations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and East Coast of Newfoundland in the winter. The vessel also assists in various CCG programs including Arctic scientific missions.
The presentation will be in person at Brightwood Golf Club (227 School St, Dartmouth, NS B3A 2Y5) and will be available via GoTo Meeting for those that would like to attend virtually. Please RSVP to receive a meeting link.
RSVP
Travis Franklin,
Secretary, Atlantic Branch
travisfranklin67@gmail.com

Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
February 2025
DATE: WEDNESDAY EVENING, 19 FEBRUARY 2025
TIME: 1900
LOCATION: IN THE LOWER WARDROOM, HMC DOCKYARD
LCdr Ryan deForest, XO of the first of the Canadian Navy’s Protecteur class resupply ships will give a presentation on the vessel’s concept evolution, its design, its capabilities, and its construction status.
Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels are a critical component of blue water navies and are strategic national assets. Replenishment ships increase the range of other ships or a Naval Task Group by letting them stay at sea for longer periods of time before going to port for supplies.
Click the image below to a site with video and details of the ship and a video of the sea-to-shore offloading connector being assembled.
Members often arrive early to share conversations with colleagues. Spouses and guests are always welcome at our Branch meetings! Meetings have a question and answer period at the end.
Communications Coordinator, for the executive committee
250-661-7369
Great Lakes Branch – Annual General Meeting 2025
Great Lakes Branch – Annual General Meeting 2025
Thursday, January 16, 2025
At the Antler Room (The Loose Moose)
146 Front Street, Toronto
Tickets $160.00 (tax included)
Tickets available from Great Lakes Branch
cimareglb@gmail.com