In a significant international deal, North Vancouver's Seaspan Shipyards has finalized an agreement to provide the design for a new fleet of U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers. The company announced the contract on Wednesday, confirming a partnership that has been under development since the summer of 2025.
A Design Forged in Canadian Waters
The design at the heart of this deal is the same multi-purpose vessel Seaspan has been developing for the Canadian Coast Guard since 2020 under the federal government's national shipbuilding strategy. Canada plans to acquire up to 16 of these icebreakers, with the first delivery targeted for 2030, as part of a massive $14.2 billion program.
For the U.S. project, Seaspan has teamed up with American firm Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC and Finland's Rauma Marine Constructions Oy. This consortium was the winning bidder for a U.S. Coast Guard contract to construct six vessels, designated as Arctic Security Cutters. The first of these American ships is scheduled for delivery by 2028.
A Tripartite Pact for Arctic Capability
The final agreements, signed this week, grant the U.S. program access to Seaspan's detailed design and supply-chain packages. While the financial terms remain confidential, the strategic value is clear. Seaspan Shipyards CEO John McCarthy hailed the design as "a true success story" for the national shipbuilding strategy.
McCarthy explained that this sale is a direct result of a tripartite pact signed by Canada, Finland, and the U.S. in the fall of 2025, aimed at bolstering the icebreaker-building capacities of all three nations. "The interoperability resulting from a common design and supply chain between the Canadian and American coast guard fleets will create countless opportunities for collaboration through the vessels’ operational lives," McCarthy stated in a news release.
Export Victory and Industrial Benefits
Although technically falling outside the direct scope of the national shipbuilding strategy, Seaspan confirmed this contract represents the first export sale from a Canadian shipyard under the program's umbrella. A company statement emphasized that one of the core goals of the strategy is to rebuild a competitive, export-capable shipbuilding industry.
The deal also promises tangible benefits for Canadian suppliers. In developing its design, Seaspan selected numerous technical systems and equipment providers, including many Canadian companies. These firms will now be integrated into the supply chain for the U.S. and Finnish shipyards constructing the icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard.
This development comes as both Canada and the United States urgently work to enhance their year-round operational presence in the Arctic. The region, rich in resources and featuring increasingly vital shipping routes, has seen growing activity from global powers like Russia and China.
The U.S. Coast Guard formally awarded its construction contract on December 29, 2025. In its announcement, the service stated that the six new icebreakers will be crucial for securing Alaskan borders and providing the mobility needed to respond to crises in the Arctic. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem underscored the strategic necessity, noting that adversaries are seeking to grow their Arctic presence and that revitalizing American icebreaking capability is "crucial for our security and prosperity."
