Construction of Canada’s next-generation heavy icebreaker, the Polar Max, has officially begun at Helsinki Shipyard following a steel-cutting ceremony on August 20, 2025. The project, carried out under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, is part of Ottawa’s broader effort to renew its Arctic fleet.
The Polar Max will be built through a hybrid model: its hull will be fabricated in Finland, where shipyards have extensive icebreaker expertise, before being transported to Chantier Davie’s upgraded facilities in Lévis, Quebec, for outfitting and final delivery. This approach is designed to accelerate delivery while simultaneously expanding Canada’s domestic shipbuilding capacity.
Slated for completion around 2030, the vessel is expected to exceed the capabilities of the current Canadian Coast Guard fleet, offering greater range, endurance, and icebreaking power. The project is also tied to the ICE Pact, a cooperative framework between Canada, Finland, and the United States aimed at bolstering Western icebreaking strength in the Arctic amid growing geopolitical competition.