Polar Max Steel Cutting Signals a New Era in Canadian Arctic Shipbuilding

Lévis, Québec — Canada’s Arctic ambitions are about to get a massive boost. On August 20, Davie officially launched construction of the Polar Max icebreaker, a vessel destined to redefine the nation’s capabilities in polar waters. When delivered by 2030, Polar Max will not just be a ship—it will be a statement of Canadian ingenuity, industrial collaboration, and Arctic leadership.

“Today’s construction launch marks a major step in Canada’s commitment to reinforcing Arctic sovereignty. The Polar Max project will deliver advanced vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard while boosting domestic shipbuilding expertise and strengthening economic and security ties with Finland and Europe,” affirmed the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

A Hybrid Build for Speed and Expertise

The construction of Polar Max marks an unprecedented transatlantic collaboration between Canadian-controlled facilities in Helsinki, Finland, and Lévis, Québec. The hull will first take shape at Davie’s Helsinki Shipyard, a global leader in heavy and medium icebreakers with a 25-year track record of delivering 100% of Finland’s complex vessels.

Meanwhile, the majority of work and final delivery will happen at Davie’s Lévis facility, which is undergoing an $840 million upgrade. This investment ensures that Canada retains the capability to design and build sophisticated ships for current and future Arctic programs. The hybrid build strategy is a game-changer—it accelerates delivery, creates jobs sooner, and transfers critical shipbuilding know-how directly to Canada, stimulating the domestic maritime supply chain.

“Today’s steel cutting ceremony is more than the start of construction of one very special ship. It’s the start of a new chapter in Canadian Arctic leadership,” said James Davies, CEO of Davie. “The Polar Max represents how trusted allies can collaborate to deliver strategically vital projects when they are needed most. We want to thank the governments of Canada and Québec for their vision, and we are determined to deliver this ship on time and on budget.”

Economic and Strategic Benefits for Canada

Polar Max isn’t just about Arctic icebreaking—it’s about building Canada’s industrial future. Some of its standout benefits include:

• Rapid progress: Construction begins just five months after contract signature.
• Cost discipline: A fixed-price contract ensures on-time delivery and financial predictability.
• Business boost: Over $200 million will flow to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the supply chain.
• Québec jobs: Thousands of high-value positions will be created in Lévis, across Québec, and within Canada’s marine industry.
• New partnerships: Le Groupe ALMACO, a Canadian subsidiary of ALMACO Group, will deliver a major outfitting contract, including Canada’s first modular cabin factory in Québec.
• Knowledge transfer: Direct workforce collaboration with Helsinki Shipyard strengthens expertise for future National Shipbuilding Strategy projects.

Polar Max: A Global-Impact Canadian Ship

The Polar Max is not only a Canadian milestone but also a global innovation in Arctic shipbuilding. Developed under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact)—a trilateral initiative between Canada, Finland, and the United States—it will be the first polar icebreaker built collaboratively between Europe and North America.

“Davie is uniquely positioned to deliver a ship as advanced and strategically important as the Polar Max,” said Alex Vicefield, Chairman and CEO of Inocea, Davie’s parent group. “With a global footprint, including our soon-to-be upgraded Lévis facility and the renowned Helsinki Shipyard, we combine the world’s best polar shipbuilding expertise with the strength, skill and unique Davie spirit of our Canadian workforce.”

Engineered to endure some of the harshest conditions on Earth, Polar Max will support a range of critical missions: safeguarding Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, enabling scientific research, protecting the environment, and enhancing maritime security. In short, it’s a vessel designed to do it all—where others cannot.

Canada’s Arctic future is no longer just on the horizon. With Polar Max, the country is building a ship, an industry, and a legacy that will shape the North for decades to come.

“The National Shipbuilding Strategy is fostering collaboration to strengthen Canada’s Arctic security, equipping the Canadian Coast Guard with new icebreakers and developing a skilled domestic workforce. With construction now underway on the Polar Max icebreaker, the project will progress while developing the skills and expertise of Canadian workers. This international collaboration provides our workers with the opportunity to learn best practices and advanced methods that will strengthen Canada’s shipbuilding industry for years to come,” expressed the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State, Defence Procurement.