A New Era for Canada’s Icebreaking Fleet
Canada’s Seaspan Shipyards has announced that the preparations for constructing the country’s first heavy polar icebreaker in more than six decades have officially commenced. The shipyard, located near Vancouver in British Columbia, has started cutting the inaugural steel segments in a test block. This step is crucial to confirming the adapted construction methods and providing necessary training for staff before construction begins on the vessel in 2024.
With the retirement of the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, Canada’s current largest icebreaker, approaching in just a few years, the new polar icebreaker has become the focus of the Canadian government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. However, critics say the construction is lagging behind schedule and expect the costs to soar before the vessel is delivered.
From Plans to Progress
Canada initially revealed plans for the new icebreaker in 2018, and in 2019, Vard was contracted to carry out the design work. Soon after, in September 2020, Seaspan Shipyards and Genoa Design announced their exclusive teaming agreement on the polar icebreaker’s design and construction. The government has already hinted at intentions for a second vessel, even as work on the first ship is in its early stages.
Before ramping up the pace of the icebreaker’s construction, Seaspan is developing a prototype block to test the systems, processes, people, and tools necessary for working with the specialized thick steel required for a heavy polar icebreaker. The shipyard reports that some of this steel will be up to 60 millimeters thick to ensure the vessel can safely traverse the Arctic’s multi-year ice.
Enhancing Arctic Navigation Capabilities
Martin Edwards, Chief Program Officer at Seaspan Shipyards, emphasized that cutting the steel on the prototype block is a crucial milestone for the Polar Icebreaker Program, demonstrating Seaspan’s capabilities across various disciplines. Moreover, the experience and insights gained from constructing the block will help to optimize the quality and efficiency of the design and manufacturing processes when the vessel enters production in late 2024.
Seaspan has already accumulated extensive experience in designing and building polar-class vessels, including three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels and an Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel, in service and under construction, respectively, with the Canadian Coast Guard. In addition, a new class of 16 Multi-Purpose Vessels is currently in the design phase.
Meeting the Challenges of the Arctic
The Polar Icebreaker is set to be an exceptionally complex vessel designed specifically to operate in the ice-clogged waters of the Arctic. It will play a critical role in enabling the Canadian Coast Guard to traverse and safeguard the Arctic coastline. With a displacement of 27,876 tonnes and a length of 518 feet, the icebreaker will boast improved capabilities to operate in more difficult ice conditions, reach farther north, and stay active for longer durations than any of Canada’s current or previous icebreakers.
