Offshore oceanographic science vessel
The offshore oceanographic science vessel (OOSV) will:
- become the largest dedicated science vessel in the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) fleet
- provide increased capability and capacity to support the marine science missions of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the East Coast
- conduct work to help improve Canada’s understanding of the Atlantic Ocean, which is home to some of the most productive marine environments in the world
Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Naalak Nappaaluk
Project at a glance
- Shipyard
-
Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. (VSY) in Vancouver, British Columbia
- Project status
-
Delivered
- Number of vessels
-
1
- Project budget
-
$1.47 billion (taxes included)
- Year delivered
-
2025
Current status
On November 13, 2025, the CCG accepted delivery of the OOSV at its base in Victoria, British Columbia. With sea trials successfully completed, the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk transited in April 2026 from the West Coast to its home port at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, through the Panama Canal.
Progress of the project
- In August 2024, the OOSV was launched, which marked the completion of the construction of the ship’s underwater hull and the first time it was lowered into the water
- pier-side work and harbour and sea trials were performed
- the Government of Canada announced the name of the OOSV, the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, which was chosen in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
- The ship’s consolidation was commemorated on November 15, 2023
- this marked the final stage of building the ship’s individual blocks
- the blocks were then joined together to form the ship’s complete structure
- The keel-laying ceremony for the OOSV was held on November 25, 2022
- On February 18, 2021, the Government of Canada announced a contract of $453.8 million (taxes included) to VSY for the construction of 1 OOSV for the CCG
- In early 2019, the Government of Canada made a decision to resequence construction of the joint support ship (JSS) and the OOSV at VSY
- this measure aims to build on the momentum underway with the construction of the JSS early block
- under the revised sequencing, VSY will first complete construction on JSS 1, followed by the construction of the OOSV, and then JSS 2
- In November 2015, Canada awarded the initial construction engineering contract to VSY to begin the work required before the start of construction
Photo gallery
News
- New offshore oceanographic science vessel delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard (November 13, 2025)
- Canadian Coast Guard celebrates the launch of the new offshore oceanographic science vessel (August 17, 2024)
- Canadian Coast Guard marks the ship consolidation milestone of the offshore oceanographic science vessel, critical to advancing ocean science in Canada (November 15, 2023)
- Government of Canada takes next step toward construction of offshore oceanographic science vessel for Canadian Coast Guard (February 18, 2021)