The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) is a long-term, multi-billion-dollar program aimed at renewing the fleets of the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy to ensure that Canada's maritime agencies have the modern ships they need to fulfill their missions, while revitalizing Canada's marine industry, creating middle-class jobs and maximizing economic benefits across the country.
As part of its fleet renewal plan, the Canadian Coast Guard is acquiring 2 polar icebreakers through the NSS. To deliver these vessels by the early 2030s, construction work is being done by 2 shipyards: Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards and Chantier Davie Canada Inc.
On March 7, 2025, the Government of Canada announced it had awarded 1 contract to Seaspan, and the following day announced 1 contract to Chantier Davie for the construction of the 2 polar icebreakers.
Polar icebreaker being built by Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards
The polar icebreaker being built by Seaspan is based on a design that was provided by the Government of Canada. The shipyard has taken that design and matured it through construction engineering towards a production-ready design to build the vessel.
Before starting full construction on the polar icebreaker, Seaspan built a prototype block to test the new processes and tools required to work with the ship's specialized steel. The prototype block was designed to include the most complex steel structures and welding requirements involved in building the polar icebreaker. It was completed in February 2024.
The Seaspan polar icebreaker will have the ability to operate for several months at sea without needing to come to port, and will be equipped with a flight deck to land Arctic-capable helicopters. The vessel will measure 158 metres in length and will be shaped for optimal performance in heavy ice.
The contract for the construction of the Seaspan polar icebreaker is valued at $3.15 billion, and the ship is expected to be delivered by 2032.
In addition to this construction contract, the Government of Canada previously awarded 3 contracts (ancillary, construction engineering and long lead items) with a combined total value of $1.12 billion to Seaspan for the polar icebreaker.
Polar icebreaker being built by Chantier Davie Canada Inc.
Chantier Davie will be building this ship in Lévis, Quebec. To accelerate its production, Chantier Davie will also leverage its Canadian-owned shipyard in Finland, Helsinki Shipyard. This strategy not only complements Canada's partnership with Finland under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact), but also leverages Finnish expertise to strengthen shipbuilding capacity in Canada.
Through a work-sharing program, Canadians will work alongside their Finnish counterparts to build a portion of the ship in Finland. This will allow Canadian workers to learn from the Finnish yard, which has extensive experience in building icebreakers. The skills and knowledge Chantier Davie workers will acquire will be applied to future icebreakers, improving the shipyard's capacity to build large, complex and capable ships here at home.
This will also enable Chantier Davie to continue infrastructure upgrade work at its shipyard in Lévis, Quebec, while simultaneously building part of the polar icebreaker in Finland.
The polar icebreaker being built by Chantier Davie will measure 139 metres in length, with a Polar Class 2 rating. This means it can break ice in the high Arctic and deliver ocean science year round, just as the Seaspan polar icebreaker will.
The contract for the construction of the Chantier Davie polar icebreaker is valued at $3.25 billion, and the ship is expected to be delivered by 2030.
In addition to this construction contract, the Government of Canada previously awarded an ancillary contract with a value of $14.3 million to Chantier Davie for the polar icebreaker.
Protecting our interests at home and abroad
The Arctic is an integral part of Canada, home to 150,000 Canadians and generations of Indigenous Peoples. With transformative agreements like the ICE Pact, signed last November with the United States and Finland, and through Canada's defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence, Canada is investing in our collective defence and security in the Arctic.
Although both of these vessels will be polar icebreakers, they will vary in capability. As such, both vessels working together will be able to fulfill all Arctic missions and ensure Canada has continuous, year-round presence in the region.
Canada remains committed to building ships in Canada as part of the NSS. Canada continues to work with our strategic partners to ensure that members of the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard have the equipment they need to do their jobs and protect Canadians, while maximizing economic benefits for the country.
