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Davie shipyard to expand operations south of the border to build icebreakers

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • July 30, 2024

Models of the Polar icebreakers are seen at the Davie Shipbuilding booth at the CANSEC trade show, billed as North America's largest multi-service defence event, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

MONTREAL -- Quebec-based Davie shipbuilding plans to set up operations south of the border to help the United States build icebreakers.

A White House announcement on Monday says the shipbuilder is in talks to partner with an existing American shipyard.

The news follows a pact announced earlier this month under which Canada, the U.S. and Finland will collaborate to build polar icebreakers.

Davie landed a Canadian government contract worth $8.5 billion earlier this year to build seven icebreakers and two hybrid-powered ferries.

The company also recently purchased Finland's Helsinki shipyard, which has built half the world's icebreaker fleet.

The Quebec government contributed $110 million to that acquisition, on top of a $520-million injection to help Davie modernize its shipyard in Levis, Que.

This report by was first published July 30, 2024.