Canada Launches First Coast Guard Arctic Patrol Ship as Polar Fleet Renewal Gathers Pace

The 104.7-meter future CCGS Donjek was floated out in Bedford Basin this week after being transferred from Irving Shipbuilding’s land-level facility in Halifax aboard a semi-submersible barge, the government said, underscoring momentum in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.

The vessel is the first of two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) being built for the Coast Guard, with a sister ship, the future CCGS Sermilik, already under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2027.

“The launch of the CCGS Donjek is a major advancement for the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Kevin Brosseau, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard.

Designed as a multi-mission platform, the Donjek will extend Canada’s reach into Arctic waters that are becoming increasingly accessible due to climate change while also supporting fisheries enforcement, search and rescue, conservation and protection, and humanitarian operations.

Collaboration

The ship is based on the Harry DeWolf-class design already in service with the Royal Canadian Navy, giving Ottawa a common Arctic-capable platform across military and civilian fleets.

Officials say the vessels will play a key role in supporting remote northern communities, conducting scientific research, and maintaining sovereignty patrols in contested or sensitive regions.

With a displacement of roughly 6,700 tonnes and accommodation for more than 50 personnel, the AOPS can remain at sea for up to 48 days and operate far offshore, beyond Canada’s exclusive economic zone.

Equipped with a flight deck and hangar, the ships can embark helicopters, while modular cargo space allows them to carry containers for resupply or emergency response missions.

Although not heavy icebreakers, the vessels are ice-strengthened to operate in first-year sea ice in the low Arctic during summer and shoulder seasons, as well as in winter conditions along Canada’s Atlantic coast.

This capability is seen as critical for bridging the gap between traditional patrol ships and the country’s larger, aging icebreaker fleet.

Part of broader push

Canadian officials framed the launch as part of a broader push to reinforce Arctic capacity amid rising geopolitical and commercial interest in the region.

“Today’s launch marks an important step forward in strengthening Canada’s maritime presence – particularly in the Arctic,” Defence Minister David McGuinty said in a statement.

Ottawa’s National Shipbuilding Strategy includes plans for two new polar icebreakers, up to six program icebreakers and as many as 16 multi-purpose icebreakers, alongside the AOPS program, in what officials describe as a long-term effort to rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity and ensure year-round Arctic access.

The push mirrors wider activity among Arctic nations. The United States is also expanding its polar fleet, including a program of Arctic Security Cutters – now planned at up to 11 vessels – with contracts involving shipbuilders such as Davie in Canada and Seaspan on the Pacific coast. 

The first of the new US vessels will be based in Alaska rather than Seattle, Washington in a further sign of rising Arctic importance.

For Canada, the Donjek represents a near-term step toward filling capability gaps as larger icebreaker projects progress more slowly.

The vessel is expected to undergo sea trials before delivery to the Coast Guard in late 2026, with the Sermilik to follow a year later.

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