Davie Shipbuilding has secured a contract from the Government of Canada to build six icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
The firm-fixed contract, valued at $11.3 billion, was announced at a ceremony in Lévis, Québec. It is a part of the renewal and expansion of Canada’s Arctic fleet under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Construction of the first vessel will begin in 2027, with all vessels being delivered throughout the 2030s.
The new fleet will replace the CCG’s heavy and medium icebreakers operating in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence waterways and the Great Lakes during the winter, and in the Arctic during the summer.
This investment will ensure that the CCG can continue delivering the critical services that Canadians rely on every day, including keeping vital trade and transportation routes open year-round, supporting northern and coastal communities, protecting Canada’s waters, and strengthening the country’s presence and sovereignty in the Arctic.
The program is expected to bolster domestic supply chains and enhance Canada’s industrial resilience by prioritizing Canadian suppliers, materials, expertise, and manufacturing capacity in full support of the Government of Canada’s Buy Canadian Policy.
“In Québec, the maritime industry is at the heart of our economy, our history, and our identity. Our government was right to believe in Davie and to provide it with the means to succeed. By supporting the modernization of the Lévis shipyard and the acquisition of the Helsinki shipyard, Québec helped create the conditions that have enabled Davie to secure these $11.3 billion federal contracts. This is excellent news for our workers, our suppliers, and our regions," Christine Fréchette, Premier of Québec, said.
“We thank the Government of Canada for its leadership and vision in challenging the status quo and reshaping how major national projects are delivered. This contract reflects Canada’s confidence in Davie’s ability to deliver complex, mission critical ships. I am incredibly proud of our team and our partners, who continue to drive productivity and innovation in shipbuilding. Together, we are ready to deliver," commented James Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Davie.
“This program is transformative for our workforce and for the future of shipbuilding in Canada. It provides long-term certainty. With this contract we can offer unparalleled opportunities for our employees to grow and excel. Combined with our ongoing investments in infrastructure, these contracts will allow our teams and suppliers to reach levels of efficiency and productivity never seen in Canadian shipbuilding," added Lindsey Kettel, President, Davie.
“Our Canadian Coast Guard’s icebreaking services are vital to keep our waterways open and safe while maintaining the flow of trade that underpins Canada’s economic growth. The new Program Icebreakers will be game changing assets across our Southern and Arctic waterways, equipping our crews with the capability they need to carry out critical operations year round. These vessels will strengthen our support to coastal and northern communities, expand our capacity for science missions, and reinforce Canada’s presence and maritime security in an Arctic region that is becoming more active and important every year," Kevin Brosseau, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, concluded.