The Canadian government has awarded a €2 billion contract to Helsinki Shipyard, part of the Canadian-owned Davie shipbuilding group, to construct a heavy icebreaker.
This groundbreaking project will involve collaboration between Finnish and Canadian maritime experts, with work beginning at the Helsinki Shipyard and concluding at Davie’s shipyard in Canada. The icebreaker, based on the Polar Max design and Aker Arctic’s Aker ARC 148 hull form, is set to be delivered by 2030.
This contract marks the first newbuild project at Helsinki Shipyard under Davie’s ownership and is expected to create 500 new jobs at the Finnish shipyard, with many more in the surrounding maritime industry. The vessel, weighing 22,800 tonnes and measuring 138.5 meters, will not only serve as an icebreaker but also as a research vessel and emergency response unit for oil spill management and towing operations year-round.
The project is part of Canada’s national shipbuilding program and aligns with the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) between Finland, Canada, and the United States. It aims to enhance Arctic defense and counter the growing influence of adversaries in the polar regions.
This collaboration further emphasizes Finland’s leadership in Arctic shipbuilding expertise and Davie’s commitment to revitalizing Helsinki Shipyard and promoting Finnish maritime innovations internationally.