New steel pact aims to fuel Canadian Coast Guard’s icebreaker construction

Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards (Seaspan) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Stigterstaal Canada and Algoma Steel to explore a strategic partnership aimed at reestablishing a domestic steel supply chain focused on bolstering and expanding shipbuilding in Canada.

The memorandum provides a framework for the three companies to assess the feasibility of Algoma Steel supplying Class and non-Class steel to Seaspan through Stigterstaal, who will act as a commercial and logistical subcontractor.

All parties will engage in discussions to evaluate technical, commercial, and logistical requirements for Seaspan’s first-in-class icebreaker build. The collaboration also seeks to strengthen Canadian industrial capabilities and support the long-term sustainability of the national shipbuilding sector.

In April, Seaspan began construction on the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) new heavy polar icebreaker. This will be the only heavy polar icebreaker to be fully built in Canada and, once delivered, will be the largest and most capable ship in the CCG’s fleet, according to the shipbuilder.

The ship will be used for scientific expeditions, search and rescue missions, and protecting Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.

Capable of breaking 2.5 meters of ice continuously, it will be used for year-round operations in the Arctic. The heavy icebreaker is the seventh vessel designed and built by Seaspan under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).

Highlights of key design features include:

• IACS Polar Class 2 (PC2) Heavy Icebreaker;
• More than 40MW of installed power;
• Ice-classed azimuthing propulsion system;
• Complex, multi-role mission capability;
• Scientific laboratories;
• Moon pool (to allow for safe deployment of equipment from within the ship);
• Helicopter flight deck and hangar;
• Vehicle garage and future remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) capability.

“This signed Memorandum of Understanding paves the way for Seaspan, Stigterstaal and Algoma to build on our shared goals of mutual economic benefits to our nation. Seaspan is committed to partnering with Algoma and Stigterstaal for future shipbuilding initiatives, ensuring that knowledge from other shipbuilding and icebreaking jurisdictions is developed in Canada,” Kate Morton, Vice President, Supply Chain Management, Seaspan, said.

“At Stigterstaal Canada, we are extremely proud to be part of rebuilding the Canadian shipbuilding industry alongside partners like Algoma. Over the past few years, a significant upgrade has taken place at the mill in Sault Ste. Marie, transforming it into one of the most modern heavy plate mills in the Western Hemisphere. Together with Seaspan, we are committed to maximizing the use of Canadian steel in their future projects. In close collaboration with Algoma, we are taking the necessary steps to make this a reality,” Ronald de Groot, CEO, Stigterstaal Canada, noted.

“This collaboration underscores our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our customers and advancing Canadian industry through reliable, domestically produced steel,” Christopher Ford, Chief Commercial Officer, Algoma Steel, stated.

Seaspan’s NSS supply chain now includes more than 800 Canadian companies, resulting in more than $3 billion in contracts, it was concluded.

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