- Seaspan Shipyards signed a new contract with Genoa Design International to provide design expertise for Canada’s heavy polar icebreaker.
- The vessel will be the first heavy icebreaker built in Canada in over 60 years, strengthening Arctic sovereignty and emergency response capacity.
- The project underscores the ongoing collaboration between Seaspan and Genoa under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).
Seaspan Shipyards and Genoa Design International have renewed their collaboration with a contract focused on the Canadian Coast Guard’s new heavy polar icebreaker. Under this agreement, Genoa will expand its workforce to over 100 naval architects and marine systems designers, while also providing technical leadership and program support. The vessel’s construction is already underway at Vancouver Shipyards.
Strategic Arctic Capabilities
The icebreaker, measuring 158 meters in length and 28 meters in width, is being designed to operate independently in the high Arctic year-round. As a Polar Class 2 vessel, it will sustain a 12-month presence across Canada’s 162,000 km Arctic coastline. The ship will support sovereignty, scientific research (including climate studies), Indigenous and northern communities, and provide critical capacity for search and rescue operations. With accommodations for up to 100 personnel, it will be capable of operating in harsher ice conditions and for longer durations than any Canadian icebreaker built to date.
National Shipbuilding Strategy Milestone
This heavy polar icebreaker represents the seventh vessel designed and built by Seaspan under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. It will be the fifth Polar Class vessel delivered to the Coast Guard and part of a broader program that includes up to 21 new icebreaking vessels.
Industry Collaboration and Impact
Both Seaspan and Genoa emphasized the importance of this milestone in building Canadian shipbuilding capacity and advancing national security objectives. Leaders from both companies highlighted how their partnership strengthens the industry’s expertise while ensuring Canada remains prepared for Arctic challenges for generations to come.
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Source: Seaspan Corp
