Polar icebreaker projects
As part of its fleet renewal plan, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is acquiring 2 polar icebreakers through the National Shipbuilding Strategy. To deliver these vessels by the early 2030s, construction work is being done by 2 shipyards: Chantier Davie Canada Inc. and Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards.
These polar icebreakers will:
- be Canada’s most powerful icebreakers and among the most powerful icebreakers in the world
- enable CCG to operate at higher latitudes for longer periods
- help the fleet better support Indigenous Peoples and other northerners
- strengthen Arctic security
- advance high Arctic science
- improve responses to maritime emergencies
On this page
- Polar icebreaker being built by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards
- Polar icebreaker being built by Chantier Davie
- News
Polar icebreaker being built by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards
Project at a glance
- Shipyard
Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards (VSY)
- Project status
- Construction phase
- Number of vessels to be built
- 1
- Expected vessel delivery
- 2032
- Project budget
$3.15 billion (construction contract)
$1.12 billion (combined total of ancillary, construction engineering and long lead items contracts)
Artist concept of the CCGS Imnaryuaq, the new polar icebreaker being built by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards
Current status
Construction of the CCGS Imnaryuaq, the VSY polar icebreaker, is underway.
Project progress
- July 2025: Start of full-rate production of new polar icebreaker
- April 2025: Seaspan Shipyards cut steel on new polar icebreaker
- March 2025: Canada awarded contracts to VSY for the construction of 1 polar icebreaker
- August 2024: Government of Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, announced the names of the 2 polar icebreakers
- CCGS Arpatuuq
- CCGS Imnaryuaq
- May 2023: VSY cut steel on a 'prototype block' for the polar icebreaker, marking a critical step in the shipyard's work on the project
- December 2022: Contracts awarded to VSY for construction engineering and long lead items
- July 2021: VSY started
- assessing and optimizing the design
- planning work
- preparing for comprehensive construction engineering for the polar icebreaker program
The year ahead
VSY will continue to advance work on the polar icebreaker.
Polar icebreaker by Chantier Davie Canada Inc.
Project at a glance
- Shipyard
Chantier Davie Canada Inc. (CDCI)
- Project status
- Construction phase
- Number of vessels to be built
- 1
- Expected vessel delivery
- 2030
- Project budget
$3.25 billion design and build contract
$14.3 million (ancillary contract)
Artist concept of the CCGS Arpatuuq, the new polar icebreaker being built by Chantier Davie
Current status
Construction of the hull continues at the Canadian-owned Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, and in parallel, construction of the accommodation is now underway at Davie’s Quebec shipyard.
Progress of the project
- March 2026: Start of Canadian production at Chantier Davie Canada Inc
- August 2025: Steel cutting in Finland for the hull marks start of construction phase for the CCGS Arpatuuq
- March 2025: Contract awarded to CDCI for the final design and construction of 1 polar icebreaker
- September 2024: Canada awarded an ancillary contract to CDCI to advance work on a polar-class icebreaker
- August 2024: Government of Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami announced the names of the 2 polar icebreakers: CCGS Arpatuuq and CCGS Imnaryuaq
The year ahead
Continued construction of the ship at Davie’s shipyard in Lévis, Quebec and Helsinki, Finland.
News
- Government of Canada marks the start of construction of its Polar Max icebreaker (August 20, 2025)
- Government of Canada awards contract to Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards for construction of new polar icebreaker (March 7, 2025)
- Government of Canada awards contract to Chantier Davie for construction of new polar icebreaker (March 8, 2025)
- Minister Duclos announces new investments in the National Shipbuilding Strategy at the Naval Quebec Annual Conference (September 16, 2024)
- Working with the North, for the North (August 19, 2024)
- Government of Canada announces polar icebreakers to enhance Canada’s Arctic presence and provide critical services to Canadians (May 6, 2021)
- Backgrounder: Polar icebreakers and the National Shipbuilding Strategy (May 6, 2021)