Seaspan Shipyards (Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd.) and Heddle Shipyards (Heddle Marine Service Inc.) announced that they will become partners to build a future polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard to replace the decades-old Louis S. St-Laurent CCGS by 2029.

Under the terms of their exclusive teaming deal, Heddle will manufacture ship modules at its three Ontario shipyards in Hamilton, St. Catharinesand Thunder Bay. The relationship would also provide NSS program work for the Mount Pearl Newfoundland facility in Heddle.

“This partnership with Seaspan Shipyards provides us with a critical opportunity to revitalize the shipbuilding industry in Ontario and Newfoundland by becoming a meaningful partner in the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This in turn will bring long-term jobs and predictability to our highly-skilled workforce at all of our shipyards and to our well-established supply chainm” said Shaun Padulo, President of Heddle Shipyards.

Canada's existing polar icebreaker, the Louis S. St-Laurent CCGS, is the only Canadian fleet vessel capable of operating in the Arctic year-round. It is in its sixth serving decade.

"We are excited to partner with Heddle to extend the economic and social benefits of the NSS, and to leverage their skills and resources to deliver a flagship Polar Icebreaker worthy of the Canadian Coast Guard and its critical missions,” said Mark Lamarre, Chief Executive Officer, Seaspan Shipyards.

Maritime Business World