When Canada’s Arctic future is at stake, shipbuilders and designers alike are stepping up to the challenge. On October 1, 2025, Seaspan Shipyards and Newfoundland-based Genoa Design International marked another milestone in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), signing a new contract that deepens their partnership on the Canadian Coast Guard’s next-generation heavy polar icebreaker.
This isn’t just another vessel. It’s Canada’s first domestically built heavy polar icebreaker in more than 60 years—a ship that embodies the country’s ambitions in the high North. At 158 metres in length and 28 metres across the beam, the Polar Class 2 icebreaker is designed to break through the toughest Arctic conditions while supporting sovereignty, science, and safety across Canada’s 162,000 km of Arctic coastline.
Building Canadian Expertise
Under the new contract, Genoa will provide technical design guidance and expand its team to more than 100 naval architecture and marine systems designers. Their role extends beyond design schematics—they are offering program support and technical leadership as the icebreaker moves through its build phase at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards.
“Genoa’s signing of the Polar Icebreaker Build Contract with Vancouver Shipyards is the latest milestone in an enduring partnership that began and continues under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. Together, we are strengthening our nation’s ability to support national fleet requirements, from ship construction to vessel lifecycle support. Now more than ever, Canadian companies like Genoa are vitally important to the nation’s sovereignty and security,” stated Gina Pecore, CEO, Genoa Design International.
This collaboration represents a powerful east–west partnership: Seaspan, with its record of delivering large and complex ships for the Coast Guard and Navy, and Genoa, known for its design innovation and strong presence in Newfoundland and Labrador. Together, they’re ensuring Canadian expertise drives forward one of the most ambitious shipbuilding projects in the nation’s history.
“This agreement not only solidifies our role in the Canadian Polar Icebreaker program but also underscores Vancouver Shipyards’ (VSY) confidence in our ability to provide reliable expertise to support another modern and complex ship construction. This contract represents a significant step forward for the Polar team that has been working on previous design phases since 2022, while continuing the strong 15-year partnership we’ve established with VSY across four major new build programs,” conveyed Laurie Balan, COO, Genoa Design International.
A Ship Built for the North
The capabilities of this vessel are game-changing. As a Polar Class 2 icebreaker, it will be among a handful worldwide able to operate year-round in the high Arctic. Its design allows it to support a continuous 12-month Canadian Coast Guard presence in the region.
The ship’s mission is as wide-ranging as it is critical. It will support sovereignty patrols, high-Arctic scientific research (including climate change studies), and provide vital services to Indigenous and northern communities. It will also serve as a frontline responder to maritime emergencies—whether search and rescue missions, environmental protection, or disaster response.
Accommodating up to 100 personnel, the vessel will be one of the most advanced icebreakers Canada has ever deployed, with the endurance and capacity to operate farther north, in harsher conditions, and for longer periods than any Canadian icebreaker before it.
Part of a National Strategy
The heavy polar icebreaker is the seventh vessel to be designed and built by Seaspan under the NSS and one of up to 21 icebreaking vessels the shipyard is constructing for the Canadian Coast Guard. It will also be the fifth Polar Class vessel in the Coast Guard fleet—cementing Canada’s place among global leaders in icebreaking capability.
“Seaspan’s new heavy polar icebreaker is more than a ship — it represents a national capability for generations. Genoa continue to be an important Canadian design partner, helping us deliver this flagship vessel to the Coast Guard. Together, we’re continuing to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of Canada’s revitalized shipbuilding industry,” expressed Kate Morton, Vice President – Supply Chain, Seaspan Shipyards.
This ship is more than steel and engineering. It’s a symbol of Canadian sovereignty, ingenuity, and commitment to the North. With Seaspan and Genoa leading the way, the future of Canada’s Arctic operations is not only secure but also proudly built in Canada.
