Polar Max Steel Cutting Launches Construction Phase for Canada's Flagship Polar Max Icebreaker Français
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 1.
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.
The Polar Max sets a new standard for Canadian shipbuilding procurement – a smart approach that will deliver major economic and strategic benefits to Québec and Canada. Notable features:
Rapid: Construction will begin just five months after contract signature.
Disciplined: Fixed-price contract supports on-time delivery and cost benefits.
Business boost: $200 million will be invested in small and medium-sized Canadian businesses throughout the Polar Max supply chain.
Québec jobs: The creation of thousands of high-value jobs in Lévis, across the province and throughout Canada's marine industry will be accelerated.
New partners: Le Groupe ALMACO, a proudly Canadian subsidiary of ALMACO Group, will deliver a major outfitting contract for Polar Max. This collaboration will create jobs, industrial capability, and a first-in-Canada modular cabin factory in Québec.
Knowledge transfer: Workforce and expertise exchange with Helsinki Shipyard will directly strengthen future National Shipbuilding Strategy projects.
"Today's steel cutting ceremony is more than the start of construction of one very special ship. It's the start of a new chapter in Canadian Arctic leadership," said James Davies, CEO of Davie. "The Polar Max represents how trusted allies can collaborate to deliver strategically vital projects when they are needed most. We want to thank the governments of Canada and Québec for their vision, and we are determined to deliver this ship on time and on budget."
"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."
The Honourable Joël Lightbound
Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement
"Today's construction launch marks a major step in Canada's commitment to reinforcing Arctic sovereignty. The Polar Max project will deliver advanced vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard while boosting domestic shipbuilding expertise and strengthening economic and security ties with Finland and Europe."
The Honourable Mélanie Joly,
Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
"The construction of Canada's new polar icebreaker marks a historic step in strengthening our Arctic presence, protecting our oceans and supporting the communities that depend on them. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, we're building the next generation of Canadian Coast Guard vessels, and bringing together Canadian innovation and international expertise."
The Honourable Joanne Thompson,
Minister of Fisheries
"The National Shipbuilding Strategy is fostering collaboration to strengthen Canada's Arctic security, equipping the Canadian Coast Guard with new icebreakers and developing a skilled domestic workforce. With construction now underway on the Polar Max icebreaker, the project will progress while developing the skills and expertise of Canadian workers. This international collaboration provides our workers with the opportunity to learn best practices and advanced methods that will strengthen Canada's shipbuilding industry for years to come."
The Honourable Stephen Fuhr
Secretary of State, Defence Procurement
"Davie's leadership in the Polar Max project is a powerful driver of economic growth for Québec. This initiative is creating high value-added jobs, while positioning Québec as a hub in shipbuilding and reflecting the strategic importance we place on the Arctic in the 21st century."
Christopher Skeete,
Minister for the Economy, Government of Québec. "
About Davie
Based in Québec, Canada since 1825, Davie is a world-class designer and builder of specialist, mission-critical ships such as icebreakers, ferries and warships for government and commercial customers. Davie became a partner in the Government of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy on April 4, 2023. This historic agreement is for the design and construction of the largest and most technologically advanced ice-going ships ever constructed in and for Canada. The initial $8.5 billion package of work includes seven heavy icebreakers and two large hybrid-powered ferries. In November 2023, Davie, part of Group Davie, acquired Finland's Helsinki Shipyard, the world leader in icebreaker design and construction. Find out more at davie.ca and helsinkishipyard.fi.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
New simulator in Nunavik helps train people for the business world
Ajurisarvik is a simulation of a real business. The company will virtually sell and buy Inuit art, but the transactions aren't real. They're designed to train participants in roles like office clerk, receptionist or accounting clerk.
Toronto Star
3 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Mark Carney and Donald Trump hold first official call in two months
Prime Minister Mark Carney, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a group photo at the G7 Summit on June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Alta. Mark Schiefelbein AP Carney has been peppered with attacks from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre about his handling of the trade crisis, with Poilievre, fresh off a Monday byelection win, slamming the prime minister on Wednesday for his campaign assurances that he was the leader best positioned to wrangle a win out of Trump. 'Mr. Carney, in spite of his great promises of being able to manage Trump, is losing tariff wars with China, with the U.S. and has made no progress in opening other markets abroad,' Poilievre said at a news conference in Surrey, B.C. Yet Carney received support from another staunch conservative on Thursday, with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe urging a collaborative approach as Canada fends off trade pressures from not only the U.S., but also China's latest targeting of Canadian canola. 'We do need to work together. And this would be new, for this media gallery to have me standing in front of them saying that I am hoping for every success for a Liberal prime minister in this conversation,' Moe told reporters in Saskatoon. The Saskatchewan premier had just convened a meeting with his own front bench, federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and his parliamentary secretary Kody Blois, and a range of industry groups and exporters. Last week, China slapped a preliminary duty of 75.8 per cent on Canadian canola seed, after Beijing initiated an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola last year following the federal government's decision to impose 100 per cent tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles. Earlier this year, China imposed a 100-per-cent tariff on Canadian canola oil and canola meal. The Canola Council of Canada, which attended Thursday's meeting, says the combination of those actions means the Chinese market is now 'effectively closed' to the Canadian canola industry. Moe said Canada's primary goal is to 'protect the market share and the market access that we have into those significant markets, namely the United States of America, of which we are experiencing much uncertainty on a number of fronts, including agriculture products, as well as China, where we have seen first retaliatory tariffs on oil and meal … and more recently, the allegations of anti-dumping.' Moe, who is preparing to visit China in the coming weeks, said it is up to Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve the dispute. Blois, speaking alongside the Saskatchewan premier, said Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is also focusing on identifying other markets for Canadian canola. 'We're cognizant of the importance of the market, and at the same time, I think recognizing that we are in a different world,' Blois said. Anand spent Thursday in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, though the minister's office said the duo did not discuss Canada-U.S. trade because those matters fall under the purview of her cabinet colleague Dominic LeBlanc. A readout from Rubio's office said he and his Canadian counterpart discussed Haiti's security, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, and 'mechanisms to strengthen our hemisphere's response to China's coercive activity.'
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Trade war could kill 1 in 5 B.C. small businesses within 6 months: CFIB
One in five small businesses in British Columbia could go under within six months, without help or a speedy resolution to Canada's ongoing trade war, according to an industry group. The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) says a recent survey of its members has concluded small businesses are being disproportionately hammered by U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and Canada's own retaliatory tariffs. 'A bad deal is the worst case scenario, but the next worst thing is the uncertainty,' said Ryan Mitton, CFIB director of legislative affairs for B.C. 'That's cause for concern because if governments don't act fast to provide immediate relief, then we're going to start seeing layoffs or small business closures.' 3:24 B.C. gets a B+ in CFIB trade report That's a concern for Megan Nakazawa, owner of Local Space in Chilliwack. Story continues below advertisement Even though her business sells only Canadian products, she says her company is already feeling the consumer chill, and closed its Langley location several months ago. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Every day there is an announcement of a small business just like mine that is closing its doors,' she said. 'A lot of people are just scared of what the next couple of years are going to be like and they are just not spending what they used to spend.' Mitton said eight in 10 B.C. businesses are exposed to the U.S. for trade in some way, and more than half (56 per cent) of B.C. businesses are exposed to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs or Canada's own tariffs on U.S. goods. 'The result of tariffs and counter tariffs is raising prices for everyone, we're seeing increased costs, reduced profits, and small businesses are having to completely change their supply chains,' he said. 'They're confused when it comes to orders, in fact, one in three small businesses have had orders pause lately as a result of the impacts of not just U.S. tariffs, but counter tariffs as well.' 4:37 How jump in B.C. minimum wage will impact small businesses On top of that, a quarter are being affected by U.S. duties on softwood lumber, according to the CFIB data. Story continues below advertisement 'That includes small businesses, restaurants in lumber communities, forestry communities that work on serving those workers, providing supplies, or even contracting with forestry operations themselves,' he said. While coming to a clear and stable agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump is a riddle no country has yet solved, Mitton said there are actions provincial and federal governments can take to give small businesses some breathing room. At the top of the list is ensuring all revenue from Canadian counter-tariffs is returned to domestic businesses being hurt by the trade war. The group is also calling for action to cut the cost of doing business and reduce taxes, including temporarily cutting the small business tax rate to zero or offering a tariff rebate similar to the former carbon tax rebate. That's an approach Nakazawa would support. 'The government puts a lot of Band-Aids on situations and there isn't a lot of actual help,' she said. 'We pay a lot in taxes, a lot more than these big corporations are paying when you look at percentages.'
