COMPANY PROFILE Trident Navigations

This North Vancouver-based company operates under a safety management system that guides it to achieving safety excellence for its employees and customers.

By Lisa Kopochinski

With 25 years of experience in the marine industry on both shore and on tugs, Alex Edwards founded Trident Navigations Ltd. in 2015 with the purchase of the tug Finlay and has not looked back.

“The timing was right, and I saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the industry,” he recalls. “Since then, the business has grown organically in part by the commitment of the Trident team and their ability to adapt to the daily changes that come with the marine industry.”

Trident Navigations currently operates a fleet of three tugs, a cargo vessel, ramp and bulk barges, and Trimarine Terminals Ltd., a marine terminal based out of North Vancouver. Its tugs include the Trident Warrior (1500hp), Finlay (1000 hp), Trident Shield (2000hp), and the recently named cargo vessel the Trident Transporter.

“Currently, we have a growing team both ashore and on the water. We service the west coast of Canada, Puget Sound, and Alaska,” says Edwards.

Just over the last two years, the company has purchased a 2019 built 1,500 hp conventional towing/ assist tug called the Trident Warrior. In July 2022, Trident launched a multipurpose towing ship assist tug called the Trident Shield.

“The Shield’s design was focused on safety, crew comfort, and versatility,” he explains. “With these two new built tugs, we can provide less down time and more environmentally friendly and efficient equipment to our customers.”

Industry Challenges

With all of this experience, it may look like Edwards and his team are doing this effortlessly. But those in the industry know the challenges that can occur and what needs to be done to successfully overcome them.

“There is an inherent risk to the marine industry and the biggest challenge is the many variables to consider on a day-to-day basis to ensure the safety of our employees,” he explains. “Trident is continually reviewing the safety management system to overcome these challenges and modifying the components to support the safety of our employees.”

In order to operate safely, Trident

Navigation Ltd. has implemented the following procedures:

• Transport Canada inspected vessels;

• Safety management system (SMS);

• Safe work practices (SWP);

• Ship security plans (Transport Canada approved);

• Shipboard oil pollution prevention plans (also Transport Canada approved); and

Tugboat Spring 2023

• Oil company inspected vessels (SIRE, TMSA Approved).

“The company is inspected every six months by oil companies that physically attend the vessel to check all aspects of safety equipment, SMS, maintenance, and general operational characteristics of the vessel,” says Edwards.

Trimarine Terminal

Based in North Vancouver to support the commercial marine supply chain, Trimarine Terminal provides a home base for Trident Navigation Ltd. With 20,000 square feet of warehouse space, it encompasses a water side laydown area and a fixed dock with a highway rated shore ramp.

Edwards adds that over the past two years the company has been acquiring machinery to support the marine transloading capabilities of the facility. “This is a niche site that is not readily available in Vancouver Harbour and is not a deep-sea terminal.”

As

for what the near future holds for the company Edwards says, “Trident will continue to work with customers that have similar safety, quality, and environmentally sustainable ideologies. Our team is committed to these core values both today and as we look toward future endeavors.” Ü