Canada backs $11B icebreaker construction program with Chantier Davie

Key Takeaways:

• The federal government is committing more than $11 billion to build six new program icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard.
• Under the federal Buy Canadian Policy, all six vessels will be constructed in Canada using domestic steel, materials, and local manufacturing supply chains.
• The project is projected to create nearly 5,000 direct jobs during the construction phase and contribute nearly $650 million annually to Canada’s GDP.

The Whole Story:

The Government of Canada has announced an $11 billion shipbuilding program to construct six new program icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), marking the largest shipbuilding procurement in Québec’s history.

Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the package in Lévis, Québec, confirming that all six Polar Class 3 vessels will be built at Chantier Davie Canada Inc. Construction will begin in 2027, with the first ship scheduled for delivery five years later in 2032, and full fleet deployment targeted for 2038.

The new icebreakers will replace the Coast Guard’s aging heavy and medium fleet serving Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Arctic.

Beyond maritime operations, federal officials framed the procurement as part of a broader infrastructure push to bolster trade corridors, working alongside trade capacity expansions at the Port of Québec and the Port of Montréal’s Contrecœur project. The contract also aligns with Canada’s commitments under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact with the United States and Finland.

The procurement will leverage the federal government’s Buy Canadian Policy, directing sub-contracting opportunities for structural steel, equipment, and manufacturing across small and medium-sized enterprises nationwide.

Contracts & Milestones Included in the Program:

• Initial Design Contract: A $19.6-million contract awarded to Chantier Davie in 2024 to initiate preliminary design work for the six program icebreakers.
• Heavy Icebreaker (Polar Max): A $3.25-billion contract awarded in 2025 for the construction of the Polar Max, designed as one of the world’s most capable heavy icebreakers.
• Fleet Renewal Build Phase: Construction of six Polar Class 3 program icebreakers beginning in 2027 at the Lévis shipyard, extending active build pipelines through 2038.
• Infrastructure & Trade Corridor Integration: Complementary federal investments targeting port facility developments at the Port of Québec and the Port of Montréal in Contrecœur to support increased resource export flows.