As Ottawa moves ahead with plans for up to 12 new submarines, engineering firm BMT is betting that Canada's bigger challenge may be finding the people to support them.

The company has launched an in-person, expert-led course in Canada introducing participants to submarine systems, operations and sustainment. It's aimed at technical specialists, industry partners, government organizations and other professionals who could play a role in the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

The timing reflects a known pressure point. Most of Canada's existing submarine expertise is tied up supporting the aging Victoria-class fleet, leaving a thin bench for a much larger future program.

"New submarines alone will not deliver capability; capability comes from people, knowledge and experience," said Emily Spurling, BMT's regional business development director for North America.

Submarines are among the most complex engineering systems in military service, drawing on naval architecture, marine and electrical engineering, software and cybersecurity, logistics, safety assurance and more. Building that talent pool takes years, and BMT argues the work has to start well before new boats arrive.

A core part of the course covers how submarines differ from surface ships, from engineering to operations to safety, and how professionals in adjacent fields can transfer their skills.

BMT is drawing on its submarine work in the U.K., Australia and North America, including its Submarine Design and Engineering Course offered in Australia.

Graeme Nayler, BMT's regional business director for Asia-Pacific, pointed to AUKUS as proof that workforce planning can't wait.

"Workforce development cannot be treated as a downstream activity," he said, adding that skills, assurance and sustainment need to grow alongside new platforms from a program's earliest stages.

Nayler said Canada's needs are distinct, but there's value in sharing lessons among allies as submarines become more digitally connected and uncrewed systems, autonomy and cyber resilience take on a bigger role underwater.

Canada can buy new submarines. Crewing, maintaining and modernizing them for decades is a separate problem, and industry is starting to position itself to help solve it.