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4w ago

Steel Cut for Canada’s Polar Max Icebreaker in Helsinki

The hull will be completed in Quebec under a skills-transfer partnership with Finnish experts.

Davie's and Helsinki Shipyard's personnel press the button together during a steel cutting ceremony for the beginning of construction of the PolarMax Icebreaker, at Helsinki Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland on August 20, 2025. PolarMax is the first newbuild project at the Helsinki Shipyard under Canadian-owned Davie's ownership.

Overview

  • Officials marked the start of construction at Helsinki Shipyard, with delivery of Polar Max targeted for 2030.
  • The build is split between countries, with the hull fabricated in Finland before transfer to Lévis, Quebec for final assembly and outfitting.
  • Ottawa awarded Chantier Davie a $3.25 billion contract for one polar icebreaker, while a second is being built at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards for expected delivery in 2032.
  • The project advances the ICE Pact cooperation among Canada, Finland and the United States, and follows a new Canada–Finland foreign and security policy partnership announced this week.
  • Davie says it is bidding for U.S. icebreaker work after moving to acquire shipyards in Galveston and Port Arthur, as President Donald Trump earmarks more than $8.6 billion and the U.S. Coast Guard seeks eight to nine Arctic-ready cutters.