Canada’s $3bn Polar Giant: Keel Laid for Arctic Icebreaker Imnaryuaq
The 158-metre CCGS Imnaryuaq will be the largest polar icebreaker ever built in Canada.
A historic milestone was reached this week in Canada’s Arctic shipbuilding program with the keel-laying ceremony for the future CCGS Imnaryuaq, which will become the largest polar icebreaker ever constructed in the country. The event, held at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards, marked a key step in the vessel’s assembly and blended Indigenous traditions with modern maritime engineering.
The ceremony began with a Coast Salish cleansing ritual led by members of the Squamish Nation. Using cedar boughs, they brushed the ship’s keel while singing a blessing song to purify the vessel and invite protection. Chief Ian Campbell of the Sekyu Siyam explained that the ritual aims to “clear unwanted energy, provide balance, and ensure good health” for the ship and its future crew.
Symbolic start to construction: polar icebreaker
Following tradition, two commemorative coins, designed by Indigenous artists from the Squamish and Inuit nations, were placed near the hull. One coin, selected by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, features imagery symbolizing protection from both sky and sea. The coins, secured by Seaspan’s Hitam Treadwell and CCG’s Jeff Neilson, will remain embedded in the ship for its entire operational life, a gesture believed to bring luck to builders and sailors alike.
The formal declaration of the keel’s completion was made by the Hon. Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, alongside Kevin Brosseau, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence and CCG Commissioner. Over 2,500 Seaspan employees attended the event, underscoring the project’s significance for Canada’s shipbuilding industry.
The CCGS Imnaryuaq represents a major leap in Canada’s polar icebreaking capacity. Designed to operate year-round in the high Arctic, the vessel will navigate more than 162,000 km of Arctic coastline, supporting scientific research, emergency response, and logistics for remote communities. As one of the few Polar Class 2 ships in the world, it will outperform all existing Canadian icebreakers in range, ice thickness endurance, and operational duration.
Unprecedented Arctic capabilities
Construction began in April 2025 with the cutting of steel for the vessel’s first polar block. Despite initial delays, originally slated for delivery in 2017, the project has gained momentum, with completion now expected in the early 2030s. The Imnaryuaq is the seventh ship built by Seaspan under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and the fifth Polar Class vessel for the CCG. The company’s work has generated thousands of jobs and engaged over 800 Canadian suppliers, reinforcing domestic shipbuilding expertise.
Once delivered, the icebreaker will play a critical role in asserting Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, operating in conditions no previous vessel in the fleet could withstand. Alongside a second polar icebreaker under construction in Finland, the Imnaryuaq will form the backbone of Canada’s future polar fleet, ensuring year-round access to the Arctic for decades to come.
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