An Association For YOU
Navigating a New Era in Marine Innovation
British Columbia’s marine sector is evolving—fusing deep-rooted craftsmanship with forward-thinking innovation. Today’s industry is eco-conscious, technologically advanced, and brimming with opportunity. The Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI) is here to champion that evolution, supporting businesses, workers, and communities as they chart a more sustainable and prosperous future along our Pacific Coast.
ABCMI was born from a bold vision: to unify and strengthen BC’s industrial marine sector. Its roots trace back to the West Coast Shipbuilding and Repair Forum (2006), a pivotal initiative that brought together industry leaders to tackle shared challenges and shape the future of shipbuilding and repair in British Columbia.
Key achievements from those foundational years include:
- Establishing Marine Fitter and Marine Electrician trades;
- Leading the BC Workforce Table on Shipbuilding and Ship Repair;
- Producing in-depth labour market and economic impact reports;
- Developing a comprehensive Human Resources Strategy;
- Creating community and Indigenous engagement strategies;
- Launching IMTARC (Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre);
- and Designing industry-driven curriculum and entry-level training.
From this groundwork emerged ABCMI—a dynamic association dedicated to advancing innovation, collaboration, and excellence across Western Canada’s marine landscape.
Our Objectives
- Workforce Development: ABCMI will champion relationships and strategies which permanently enhance the development of stable, satisfying and desirable careers within British Columbia’s industrial marine sector in sufficient numbers to achieve the goals of the sector.
- Sector Strategy: Through dialogue with the Government of British Columbia, ABCMI will assist in the refinement and implementation of a sector strategy which enhances the capabilities and reach of British Columbia’s industrial marine sector.
- Supply Chain Development: ABCMI will assist the broadening of British Columbia’s marine supply chain, focusing on areas in which our sector can be internationally, nationally and locally competitive.
- Establishing Member Services: ABCMI will establish the services and benefits expected by members, and deliver the value that supports member’s continued participation in the Association.
Why Join?
ABCMI membership confers benefits such as: positive influence on public policy; new business opportunities; reduced-cost access to international marketing and trade shows; preferential access to senior policy makers; visibility into future infrastructure and procurement opportunities; pooling of sector wide knowledge on challenging issues; consolidation of training demand to reduce delivery cost; facilitated access to government funding for industry initiatives; and, more employment opportunities for our workers.
Who Can Join?
Shipyards, boatyards, marine repair facilities, fleet owners, ocean and marine technology companies, industrial marine service companies, consultants, labour groups, suppliers and manufacturers, educators, designers, engineers, naval architects, marine lawyers, industrial development policy makers and public entities are all part of our member base. No other organization represents and advocates as broadly for the BC industrial marine sector. Only ABCMI spans all facets of BC’s industrial marine sector with activities which grow and strengthen our prosperity.
For more information, read our ABCMI Constitution and ABCMI Bylaws.