Shipbuilder Chantier Davie Canada has secured a contract from the Government of Canada to build six icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
The fixed-price contract is valued at AU$11.3 billion (US$8.15 billion). Construction of the first vessel will begin in 2027, with all vessels being delivered throughout the 2030s.
The new fleet will replace the coast guard'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," Davie said in a press release.
All six icebreakers will be built at Davie's shipyard in Lévis, Québec.
Under the government’s "buy Canadian" policy, these vessels will be built with Canadian steel and other domestic materials, while maximising opportunities for Canadian manufacturers, suppliers, and small and medium-sized businesses.
As coast guard vessels, the icebreakers will also be used for environmental response and search and rescue.
"These six state-of-the-art icebreakers will keep the trade routes that carry Canadian goods to the world accessible and secure," said Prime Minister Mark Carney. "Built in Lévis by Canadian workers, they are a lasting investment in a stronger, more self-reliant Canada."
