Genoa Design International: 30 Years of Digital Expertise

At Genoa Design International, we’ve spent the past 30 years proving there’s a better way to design ships. Since 1995, we have provided detailed design, 3D modelling, and design and consulting services to shipyards across North America, growing from a small family business to become one of Canada’s largest firms dedicated exclusively to production design for shipbuilding. With over 130 projects under our belt, we’ve witnessed the industry’s evolution—and we’ve evolved with it.

Today, we’re proud to support two of the most advanced icebreaker programs in North America: Canada’s Polar Icebreaker, being built by Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver, and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Polar Security Cutter, under construction by Bollinger Shipyards. Our ability to deliver quality work and adapt to shifting project demands has made us a trusted partner on the biggest stages. Most recently, we wrapped up our longest-running project to date: the Joint Support Ship HMCS Protecteur, officially launched in 2024 for the Royal Canadian Navy. Now, with the Polar Icebreaker project poised to become Canada’s largest-ever shipbuilding design contract, Genoa is ready to lead the way—again.

In the early 2000s, shipbuilding in Canada was dormant

Most graduates of Canadian marine design programs looked south to the U.S. for career opportunities, assuming that’s where the real work was. At Genoa, we were determined to change that. That included our founder, Leonard Pecore.

“In the first ten to fifteen years, all of our work was commercial: tow boats, barges, ferries, OSVs, workboats of all kinds. We were a lean team, and resources were limited, so a small group of three to four people might plan, execute, and check an entire project, all while making continual process improvements along the way. That autonomy taught us to be efficient, agile and accountable; traits that continue to define us today.”
— Leonard Pecore, Founder

Some of Genoa’s senior designers began their careers at the drafting board, using Mylar paper, T-squares, and lettering templates—tools from a bygone era. In their early careers before Genoa, they even helped create the original drawings for Canada’s Halifax-class frigates. Though CAD tools first emerged in the 1950s, shipbuilding didn’t widely adopt them until the mid-1980s. Genoa, however, was quick to embrace the digital shift.

Our early portfolio reflected our versatility and pioneering mindset, featuring the ECRC 200 Oil Spill Response Vessel (1996), the Ye Matthew Caravel (1997), and early work on BC Ferries’ Fast Cat series, as well as the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell (1998). By 1999, we formally incorporated as Genoa Design International Ltd., ready to define the future of North American ship design.

Innovation has always been part of Genoa’s DNA

From the beginning, Genoa saw the immense value of technology as a tool for ship design. At a time when working with remote clients was a challenge, we delivered projects to shipyards across the continent using early internet infrastructure, empowering our people to work where they lived, raise families, and stay rooted in their communities.

We weren’t afraid to take risks. As early adopters of programs like ShipConstructor, we learned to maximize the benefits of the program. When a new version was released in 2005, we taught ourselves how to design with it until we had modelled an entire offshore supply vessel. That spirit of experimentation and determination helped us stay ahead of the curve as the industry shifted toward fully digital workflows.

By 2007, after years of growth, we introduced LEAN, a globally adopted management philosophy and set of practices aimed at maximizing customer value while minimizing waste. Instead of focusing solely on drawings, we turned our attention to optimizing the entire model, thinking like a factory, where each piece of the process moved toward efficient production. We began automating, standardizing, and refining our processes. While others focused on outputs, we focused on process—and it made all the difference.

After 30 years, there’s not much we haven’t seen—and even less we haven’t adapted to

As Genoa matured, our growth strategy followed suit. In the early 2010s, with oil and gas absorbing much of the region’s talent, we broadened our hiring scope to include civil engineers and even those with no design background. The result? A more diverse, creative, and adaptable team.

Between 2011 and 2015, we helped modernize the Washington State Ferry fleet with vessels such as the MV Tokitae, Samish, Chimacum, and Suquamish, cementing Genoa’s role as a significant cross-border player. In 2015, we incorporated our U.S. subsidiary and celebrated the delivery of our 100th vessel.

In 2011, Genoa was named an official partner in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Adapting to this new federal landscape also meant embracing model commenting—then an unfamiliar concept—and realigning internal processes. Model revisions became the norm. In a uniquely Genoa fashion, the team turned a burdensome task into a culture-builder: for every processed comment, a dollar was donated to the Janeway Children’s Hospital. Client calls often triggered spontaneous town halls, with staff gathering to recalibrate in real time.

We went on to support the delivery of the Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (Sir John Franklin, Capt. Jacques Cartier, John Cabot), the Denman Island Cable Ferry, and helped launch the first NSS vessel (Sir John Franklin) in 2017.

Our expansion into U.S. military programs followed soon after, with 3D modelling and production design work for:

• Landing Craft Utility (LCU) – U.S. Navy, with VARD Marine and Swiftships
• Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship (T-ATS) – U.S. Military Sealift Command

“Genoa played a key role in the development of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and our involvement has allowed us to grow considerably over the past 15 years. We are proud to demonstrate that even small companies from small provinces can successfully collaborate widely, regardless of geography or time zone. We have since worked on some of the most complex projects in North America and built a successful track record as a trusted partner in shipbuilding. It’s remarkable to see our work support the defence, sovereignty and sustainment needs of North America.”
— Gina Pecore, Chief Executive Officer

The Digital Ship Experts®

As Genoa’s workload grew, so did our presence. We opened an office in New Orleans around 2013, marking our physical expansion beyond Atlantic Canada. Then in 2016, we opened an office in British Columbia. While expanding internationally was a proud milestone, it also came with growing pains, revealing the differences in workplace culture that can exist between regions. Genoa used this moment to define its core values that continue to guide leadership today.

One of the most meaningful recognitions came when VSY elevated Genoa from a Tier 2 to a Tier 1 partner—a clear signal that Genoa had earned its place at the table, not just as a subcontractor, but as a trusted leader.

Today, Genoa Design International is recognized as a leader in detailed design and 3D modelling for major naval and coast guard programs across Canada and the U.S. Hovering around 250 employees, and 130 projects completed to, our team delivers high-impact design solutions at scale, spanning North America.

In recent years, we’ve diversified through the launch of two new divisions: Talent Solutions and Digital Services, broadening our services to include workforce development, technical training, and design automation. Our registered trademarks—The Digital Ship Experts® and Digital Ship®—speak to our leadership in 3D modelling, the development of proprietary software tools and our role in shaping the future of shipbuilding.

We’ve also pioneered innovative products and services. As design complexity grows, we’re investing in the infrastructure to manage vast data sets and ensure smooth, scalable operations across our project base.

As Genoa looks to the future, we’re not just adapting to change—we’re helping define it

The next evolution of digital shipbuilding will be shaped by emerging trends, including:

• AI-assisted design
• Sustainability-first engineering
• Integrated data across the full vessel lifecycle

Imagine a future where immutable digital twins evolve alongside their real-world counterparts. Where ship systems—from steel to electrical—are connected, traceable, and optimized from concept to decommissioning. This isn’t far off. It’s already underway.

We’re committed to building that future, starting with our investment in a 3D modelling warehouse that will standardize data across clients and projects, allowing for faster design decisions, stronger integration, and increased reusability.

But innovation is about more than tools—it’s about people. At Genoa, we believe the future of Canadian shipbuilding includes international leadership, export readiness, and a culture of collaboration that values not only what we build, but also how we build it.

“I was drawn to Genoa by its bold vision—to become one of North America’s most sought-after detailed design firms. We’ve made remarkable strides, but our journey is far from over. The next 30 years promise even greater transformation, because the future of shipbuilding isn’t just digital—it’s driven by people, built on resilience, and deeply rooted in Canadian pride.”
— Laurie Balan, Chief Operating Officer

Join us in building what’s next

Whether you’re a shipyard looking for a trusted design partner, an experienced shipbuilder, a student exploring a career in marine engineering, or a technologist excited about the future of AI in manufacturing, there’s a place for you at Genoa.

“Back when I was at the Marine Institute —when the industry looked a world apart from today— I believed I’d need to move to the U.S. to find opportunity. And then along came Genoa. I joined the Genoa family as a student in the summer of 2002. At the end of that summer, Leonard told me he wanted me to come back after graduation. I asked if there’d be an interview, and he said, ‘No, you’re part of the Genoa family.’ I already knew there was something special here, but in that moment, what makes Genoa different hit home—a shared commitment to people and our shared values. From a small team above RBC in Kelligrews, playing lunchtime Delta Force, to Wii tournaments in the common area at Glencoe, to a company that now spans the country and reaches into the U.S. —from barges and tow boats to NSS and defence projects— it’s been an incredible journey with incredible people. Here’s to the next 30 years and our growing Genoa family!”
— Chad Mercer, Director of Contract Management

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