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Work begins in Finland on a new Canadian icebreaker for Arctic defense

On August 20, 2025, Chantier Davie Canada Inc. began construction of the Polar Max icebreaker at its Helsinki Shipyard, marked by a steel-cutting ceremony attended by Stephen Fuhr and Mélanie Joly under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
Davie says its hybrid approach under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort leverages Finnish shipbuilding expertise with hull fabrication at Helsinki Shipyard to accelerate delivery and transfer skills to Canadian workers.
The hull will be completed in Helsinki and then barged to Lévis, Quebec for final assembly, taking about three years with delivery of the Polar Max expected by 2030; the vessel will exceed current Coast Guard icebreakers in endurance and power.
CAD 200 million will be invested in small and medium‑sized Canadian businesses, and Davie is sending about 30 Canadian shipbuilders to Finland to transfer know‑how, creating thousands of jobs in Lévis, Quebec.
Amid broader Arctic competition, the federal government says the Polar Max project under NSS asserts Canada's Arctic sovereignty, supports the Canadian Coast Guard, and strengthens ties with Finland and European partners.

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CP24

Center

Work begins in Finland on a new Canadian icebreaker for Arctic defence

Dignitaries at a steel-cutting ceremony Wednesday in Finland marked the start of work on a new Canadian icebreaker to be named the Polar Max and aimed at bolstering Arctic defense.

2 hours ago·Toronto, Canada

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Associated Press News

+10 Reposted by 10 other sources

Lean Left

Work begins in Finland on a new Canadian icebreaker for Arctic defense

Dignitaries at a steel-cutting ceremony in Finland have marked the start of work on a new Canadian icebreaker to be named the Polar Max and aimed at bolstering Arctic defense.

7 hours ago·United States

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The Globe & Mail

Center

Work on icebreaker bound for Canadian Arctic begins at Davie shipyard in Finland

Once the hull is completed in Helsinki, it will be shipped to Davie’s facility in Quebec, where the majority of work will be done

7 hours ago·Canada

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Bloomberg

Lean Left

Finnish Shipyard Starts Building Canada’s Newest Icebreaker

The construction of Canada’s next icebreaker is starting out in Finland as the two Arctic nations boost cooperation in manufacturing the specialized vessels for the world’s harshest marine conditions.

17 hours ago·United States

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