Posted: Thursday, May 6, 2021 17:22
The federal government is moving ahead with building two heavy icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard operations in the High Arctic, federal officials announced Thursday.
The 150-metre-long vessels will be able to operate in heavy ice conditions for up to nine months at a time as well carrying out important science research in the High Arctic.
Having two heavy icebreakers in its fleet will allow the Canadian Coast Guard to maintain a year-around presence in the Arctic, said Coast Guard Commissioner Mario Pelletier.
Canada’s Coast Guard fields the world’s second largest icebreaking fleet with 18 icebreakers of varying sizes and capability. Russia is the leading icebreaking power with 40 operational vessels, including 27 ocean-going icebreakers and plans to build 11 new ships.