Canada Bets $11 Billion on Six New Icebreakers as Arctic Shipbuilding Race Accelerates

Canada is committing more than C$11 billion ($7.95 billion) to build six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard, the country’s biggest shipbuilding contract in Quebec’s history, as Arctic nations race to replace aging fleets and expand their ability to operate in increasingly strategic northern waters.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the contract on Monday at Chantier Davie in Lévis, Quebec, where all six vessels will be built. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the first ship due five years later and the full fleet expected to enter service by 2038.

The new vessels will replace Canada’s aging heavy