Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) has been awarded the construction contract to build one of the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) new heavy polar icebreakers.
With the contract now in place, Seaspan is ready to begin full-rate construction on Canada’s newest vessel under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). The official start of construction for the new heavy polar icebreaker is scheduled for April 2025.
Once delivered, it will be one of only a handful of Polar Class 2 ships in operation and will allow for the CCG to operate self-sufficiently year-round in the high-Arctic, down to temperatures at -50°C.
In addition, the vessel will be 158 metres long and 28 metres wide, with a design displacement of 26,036t. Key design features include IACS Polar Class 2 (PC2) Heavy Icebreaker, more than 40MW of installed power and ice-classed azimuthing propulsion system among others.
Moreover, the construction of the vessel will mark the first time a polar icebreaker has been built in Canada in more than 60 years and will have more advanced capabilities than the CCG’s current heavy icebreakers.
Today marks a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing our nation’s maritime capabilities. The contract awarded to Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards for the build of a new polar icebreaker underscores our dedication to ensuring safe and efficient navigation in Arctic regions.
…said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant.
The new icebreaker will be the seventh vessel designed and built by Seaspan under the NSS. It will also be the fifth Polar Class vessel to be built for the CCG, and one of up to 21 icebreaking vessels overall that Seaspan is constructing.
