The Canadian government has awarded Quebec-based Chantier Davie an 11.3-billion-Canadian-dollar contract to construct six new Polar Class 3 icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. The deal represents a major expansion of Canada’s icebreaking fleet and domestic shipbuilding capacity.The new vessels will replace older ships that currently support winter missions in Atlantic waters, the St. Lawrence system, and the Great Lakes. During the summer, the ships will also be available for Arctic operations where ice conditions require specialized vessels.Polar Class 3 vessels are designed for operations in second-year ice conditions. This capability will provide the Coast Guard with additional flexibility for maintaining maritime access and conducting northern missions over extended periods.Construction of the first ship is expected to begin with steel cutting at Davie’s Lévis facility in 2027. The lead vessel is planned for delivery in 2032, while all six icebreakers are expected to be completed by 2038.The project is expected to support thousands of jobs and contribute significantly to Canada’s industrial economy. Under the government’s Buy Canadian approach, domestic steel and other locally sourced components will be used wherever possible.The contract forms part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which targets the construction of as many as 88 vessels for Canada’s maritime agencies and forces by 2045. Davie previously received funding for the initial design of the Polar Class 3 ships and a separate contract for the larger Polar Class 2 CCGS Arpatuuq.The new icebreakers will also contribute to Canada’s wider Arctic strategy and maritime cooperation with the United States and Finland.
