SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – Seaspan Shipyards has announced the award of Algoma Steel Inc. and Stigterstaal Canada as the primary steel plate suppliers for up to six multi-purpose icebreakers (MPI) for the Canadian Coast Guard. The new agreement, valued at about $182 million, establishes the supply of up to 24,000 metric tons of Canadian-made structural steel — 4,000 metric tons of steel plate per vessel — to support Seaspan’s construction of the CCG’s MPI vessels under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. This agreement is the result of strong collaboration between Seaspan, Algoma and Stigterstaal, building upon the companies’ strategic partnership established in 2025 to further strengthen Canada’s domestic steel and marine manufacturing industries.
Today’s announcement reflects the companies’ shared commitment to strengthening Canada’s defence industrial base and building resilient domestic supply chains capable of supporting Canada’s long-term sovereign shipbuilding and Arctic security objectives.
As part of the largest order of polar-class steel in the mill’s history — which includes Seaspan’s flagship heavy polar icebreaker, the future CCGS Imnaryuaq — Algoma will produce structural steel for the MPI program, one of the biggest shipbuilding initiatives ever undertaken for the Canadian Coast Guard with up to 16 vessels on Seaspan’s orderbook.
Leveraging Stigterstaal’s expertise in marine steel processing and distribution, and Algoma’s strong reputation for producing high-quality sustainable Canadian steel, the two companies are creating certainty and long-term value for Canada’s marine and defence industries.
Designed in Canada by Seaspan’s world-class icebreaker design team, the Canadian Coast Guard’s multi-purpose icebreakers will operate year-round in Canada’s most demanding Arctic and offshore environments. Measuring approximately 100 metres in length with a displacement of nearly 9,000 tonnes, the ships will accommodate a crew of 50 personnel and feature advanced diesel-electric propulsion with Polar Class 4 (PC4) icebreaking capability. The vessels will provide the Canadian Coast Guard with enhanced icebreaking, search and rescue, environmental response and maritime sovereignty capabilities while supporting Canada’s presence in the North. All MPIs will be built in Canada at Seaspan Shipyards in British Columbia, ensuring the future of Canadian maritime defence is built by Canadian workers with Canadian steel.
This partnership with Algoma and Stigterstaal aligns with Seaspan’s broader efforts to increase the use of Canadian-made materials in shipbuilding under the NSS and foster collaboration across the country’s industrial base. Through the NSS, Seaspan is delivering tangible industrial and regional benefits to the marine industry across Canada boasting a supply chain that includes more than 880 Canadian companies resulting in more than $3 billion in contracts.
Seaspan has built a highly skilled workforce in Canada with the skillset needed to weld steel thick enough to go through Arctic ice. Using Canadian materials, Seaspan is sharpening Canada’s strength at sea equipping the Canadian Coast Guard with the next generation of polar icebreakers to keep Canada’s coastlines protected.
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Rendering of the future CCGS Imnaryuaq. [CCCS]
