After eight years of delays and a tenfold increase in costs, Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan has finally delivered the “CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk” research vessel to the Canadian Coast Guard.
The research vessel “CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk” is named after an Inuit elder from Nunavik. As the highly anticipated successor, it will replace the “CCGS Hudson”, which retired in 2022 after 59 years of service.
The “Nappaaluk” was originally scheduled to seamlessly follow the “Hudson” into service, but due to multiple factors, including the pandemic and adjustments to the “National Shipbuilding Strategy” (NSS) priorities, its delivery was repeatedly delayed. Ultimately, the “Nappaaluk” was delivered eight years later than originally planned, and the budget overrun soared to 1000%.
This new vessel will serve as the primary platform for conducting marine scientific research for Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, while also functioning as a multi-purpose patrol vessel for search and rescue operations or sovereignty enforcement missions when required by the Canadian Coast Guard.
As a top-tier oceanographic research vessel with a displacement of 5,000 tons, the Nappaaluk is equipped with comprehensive scientific research facilities, including: multiple lab spaces, a seawater sampling system for CTD and oxygen content measurements, a retractable keel with sensor arrays, and an A-frame at the stern for deploying various scientific instruments. Notably, the vessel is designed to PC 6 standards, granting it the capability to perform light icebreaking operations in Arctic regions.
In a statement, Seaspan said of the delivery, “This is a proud milestone for all participants and further validates the effectiveness of the Canadian government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.” However, behind the delivery lies the unavoidable issue of cost: the initial construction budget was approximately $80 million, but the final delivery price soared to $910 million, an increase of more than tenfold—potentially the largest cost overrun in recent shipbuilding history, more clearly demonstrating the enormous costs Canada needs to inflict to revitalize its shipbuilding industry.
In a statement, Joël Lightbound, Canada’s Minister of Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, said, “With the delivery of the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, Canada’s largest dedicated scientific research vessel, the National Shipbuilding Strategy has helped create quality jobs, strengthen the shipbuilding industry, and significantly enhance the Coast Guard’s research and operational capabilities. This demonstrates that the federal government’s strategic investment in the shipbuilding industry supports the development of Canadian domestic industries while enhancing our ability to monitor, understand, and protect the oceans.”
The vessel will next proceed to Patricia Bay for training and familiarization operations with the Canadian Coast Guard. Upon completion of training, the ship will undertake a long voyage to Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where it will be based.