In a historic milestone for the Canadian shipbuilding industry, Davie officially began construction of the Polar Max icebreaker on August 20, a vessel that, once delivered by 2030, will redefine Canada’s Arctic capabilities.
Uniquely, Polar Max will be constructed through an innovative industrial collaboration between Canadian-controlled facilities in Helsinki, Finland and Lévis, Canada. Construction on the Polar Max hull will begin at Davie’s Helsinki Shipyard, which has built 100% of the complex medium to heavy icebreakers delivered from Finland over the past 25 years .
The largest proportion of the work on the Polar Max, and delivery of the ship to the Canadian Coast Guard, will be from Davie’s home facility in Lévis, which is simultaneously undergoing an $840 million upgrade. This will secure Canada’s long-term ability to design and build complex ships for current and future Arctic programs. The hybrid build strategy will accelerate the delivery of the ship by several years ahead of the original schedule. It will also bring forward job creation and the transfer of shipbuilding know-how to Canada, while stimulating Canada’s maritime supply chain.
“Davie is uniquely positioned to deliver a ship as advanced and strategically important as the Polar Max,” said Alex Vicefield, Chairman and CEO of Inocea, Davie’s parent group. “With a global footprint, including our soon-to-be upgraded Lévis facility and the renowned Helsinki Shipyard, we combine the world’s best polar shipbuilding expertise with the strength, skill and unique Davie spirit of our Canadian workforce.”
A Canadian shipbuilding solution with global impact The Polar Max icebreaker is a great example of what can be achieved as part of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) — a trilateral initiative between Canada, Finland, and the United States to design and build Arctic and polar icebreakers— and will be the first polar icebreaker to be built collaboratively between Europe and North America.
The Polar Max is a production-ready heavy icebreaker designed to operate in some of the world’s harshest conditions. The vessel will support Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, critical scientific missions, environmental protection efforts, and maritime security.
“In an increasingly complex world, Canada’s new government is meeting the moment by rebuilding and reinvesting in the Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet of icebreakers. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, we are transforming how we deliver critical marine infrastructure and equipment, for the benefit of Canadians for generations to come. Working with partners like Chantier Davie and other industry leaders, we are equipping the Coast Guard with modern vessels and cutting-edge technology that will support our Arctic sovereignty and support a stronger Canadian economy for decades ahead.”