business
Canada Invests Over 11 Billions in New Icebreakers
The Canadian government has signed a contract with the Canadian company Chantier Davie for the construction of six new icebreakers. "These will strengthen our presence in the Arctic," says Canada’s minister of defence.
Published
Modified
On Monday, the Canadian government announced that it is investing more than CAD 11 billion in the construction of six new program icebreakers for the coast guard.
They will replace the coast guard's ageing heavy and medium icebreakers, which are used in the Canadian Arctic during the summer, as well as in the Atlantic Ocean and along the St Lawrence River in winter.
All vessels will be built in Canada at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, Quebec. Construction of the first icebreaker will begin in 2027 and be completed five years later. The entire fleet is to be in service by 2038.
"These six state-of-the-art icebreakers will keep the trade routes that carry Canadian goods to the world accessible and secure. Built in Lévis by Canadian workers, they are a lasting investment in a stronger, more self-reliant Canada," says Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a press release.
The new icebreaker fleet will also strengthen Canada's footprint in the Arctic region, says the country's Minister of Defence, David J. McGuinty.
"Canada’s economic security and national sovereignty depend on our ability to keep our waters open, secure, and moving. These six new icebreakers will keep Canadian trade flowing, strengthen our presence in the Arctic, and give the Coast Guard the capability it needs for decades to come," he states.
This is echoed by the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, Kevin Brosseau.
"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," Brosseau points out.
The Canadian Coast Guard is also awaiting two other new icebreakers currently under construction at Davie Shipyard in Lévis and Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver. These will become Canada’s most powerful icebreakers.
