Multi-purpose icebreakers (multi-purpose vessels)
Overview
The multi-purpose icebreakers will enable the Canadian Coast Guard to carry out multiple missions, including:
- icebreaking in the Arctic in moderate ice conditions
- assisting with shipping and springtime flood control in the St. Lawrence waterway and Great Lakes regions
- conducting missions involving search and rescue, emergency response, and security and protection
- maintaining Canada’s marine navigation system, composed of approximately 17,000 aids to navigation
These ships were called “multi-purpose vessels” until March 2025.
Project at a glance
- Number of vessels to be built:
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Up to 16
- Shipyard:
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Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards (VSY)
- Project budget:
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$14.2 billion (estimate excluding taxes)
- First vessel to be delivered:
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2030
Current status
Under a contract for construction engineering, VSY is carrying out the functional and production design work to develop the multi-purpose icebreaker. At the same time, under a contract to procure goods, the shipyard is doing work to secure the technical information and material needed before construction begins.
The year ahead
VSY will continue pre-construction design work and related supply chain activities.
Progress of the project
- February 9, 2024: The Government of Canada awarded 1 construction engineering services contract and 1 goods contract to VSY for the next steps in the project
- August 12, 2020: The Government of Canada awarded an initial (ancillary) contract to VSY to support early concept design and basic design work for the multi-purpose icebreakers (under this contract, the shipyard analyzed options and developed the basic design of the vessel)
News
- Government of Canada awards 2 contracts for Canadian Coast Guard’s multi-purpose vessels (March 26, 2024)
- Prime Minister announces renewal of Canadian Coast Guard fleet—Vancouver, British Columbia (May 22, 2019)
- Renewing Canadian Coast Guard fleet and supporting jobs in Atlantic Canada—Halifax, Nova Scotia (May 22, 2019)
- Renewing Canadian Coast Guard fleet and delivering important services for Canadians—Québec, Quebec (May 22, 2019)