Program icebreakers
The program icebreakers will:
- replace the heavy and medium icebreakers of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) that operate in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence waterways, and the Great Lakes during the winter, and in the Arctic during the summer
- provide aids to navigation, search and rescue, environmental response, support northern resupply missions and vessel traffic services to fulfill obligations of the CCG under the Canada Shipping Act
- be used to bolster Canada’s Arctic sovereignty as climate change makes the area more accessible and leads to an increase in vessel traffic and maritime security risk in Canada’s internal Arctic waters
3D rendering of the program icebreaker
Project at a glance
- Shipyard
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Chantier Davie Canada Inc. (Lévis, Quebec)
- Number of vessels to be built
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6
- Contract value
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$11.3 billion (taxes excluded)
Current status
On August 24, 2026, the Government Canada awarded a design and build contract to Chantier Davie Canada Inc. of Lévis, Quebec, for 6 new program icebreakers.
The year ahead
The shipyard will proceed with design work. The scope of this work includes the development of the basic, functional and production designs.