Seaspan Shipyards held a ceremonial keel-laying for the Canadian Coast Guard's (CCG) future polar icebreaker CCGS Imnaryuaq at its Vancouver Shipyards in North Vancouver, British Columbia, on Wednesday, October 14.
The ceremony marked the placement of the ship's first constructed section.
Seaspan has described the IACS Polar Class 2 heavy icebreaker as the largest icebreaker of its kind ever designed and built in Canada. She will be built to operate self-sufficiently in the high Arctic throughout the year and support a 12-month Canadian presence in the region.
The vessel will have a length of 158 metres, a beam of 28 metres, a design displacement of 26,036 tonnes, and accommodation for up to 100 personnel. Her diesel-electric propulsion arrangement will have a total installed power of 47 MW and will use ice-classed azimuthing thrusters.
Onboard features will include scientific laboratories, a moonpool, a helicopter deck and hangar, a vehicle garage, and provision for future remotely piloted aircraft capability.
The CCG said the ship's intended missions will also include search and rescue, environmental response, northern resupply, maritime security, and Arctic research support.
The vessel is named for a cape at the southern end of Banks Island in the Northwest Territories. Seaspan expects delivery in the early 2030s.
Seaspan cut the first steel for Imnaryuaq in April 2025. CCGS Arpatuuq, the second polar icebreaker under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, had her keel laid in June 2026 and is expected in 2030.
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