Heddle to aid Seaspan in building Canadian polar icebreaker

Heddle Shipyards will support Seaspan Shipyards in the construction of a polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard.

The Government of Canada announced that Seaspan Shipyards will build a polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet of icebreakers.

Heddle Shipyards, a Canadian ship repair and construction company, will support the construction.

Canada currently has 18 icebreakers of varying sizes and capabilities with the largest one being the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent. This largest icebreaker is nearing the end of its service life and in need of replacement by 2030.

Work on the new polar icebreaker is expected to start immediately upon contract award.

Heddle Shipyards sees this as a significant milestone for the shipbuilding industry in Canada and specifically in Ontario.

The other planned polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard will be built by Davie Shipbuilding of Lévis, Quebec.