Today marks a significant milestone in icebreaking cooperation between Finland and Canada, as the traditional Steel Cutting ceremony launches the first phase of construction for the vessel Polar Max at Helsinki Shipyard. Polar Max will not only be Canada’s most advanced and versatile polar icebreaker, but also the first icebreaker in Finnish history to be delivered to North America.
Helsinki Shipyard’s Canadian owner, Davie, signed a contract with the Government of Canada in March 2025 for the construction of a heavy icebreaker. The vessel will be built in Helsinki and completed in Québec, Canada. This innovative procurement model, combined with Helsinki Shipyard’s unique expertise, plays a key role in ensuring delivery on the fastest schedule in the market.
Polar Max will serve as a multipurpose vessel, operating year-round in Canada’s territorial security missions, scientific research, environmental protection, oil spill response, and emergency towing. The icebreaker will measure 138.5 meters in length.
A globally unique shipbuilding project
Polar Max is being built as part of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy and is the first shipbuilding project carried out by Helsinki Shipyard under Davie’s ownership. It is also the first icebreaker project in which European and North American shipyards collaborate, in the spirit of the ICE Pact initiative. The project combines Helsinki Shipyard’s unique know-how with the strengths of Canadian labor and supply chains.
Construction of the icebreaker will increase the workforce at Helsinki Shipyard by around 500 employees and further strengthen employment across Finland’s maritime industry.
“Helsinki Shipyard and Finland are pioneers in ship design and construction at a level unmatched elsewhere in the world. The vessel ordered by Canada is based on the Finnish Polar Max concept,” says Kim Salmi, CEO of Helsinki Shipyard.
Safeguarding Finland’s shipbuilding expertise
In July, Davie, the owner of Helsinki Shipyard, announced its acquisition of Enersense Offshore Oy, a Pori-based company specializing in steel structures for the marine industry. By securing domestic steel production in Mäntyluoto, Pori, Helsinki Shipyard becomes the only Finnish special vessel shipbuilder with independent capability from design through to delivery. Construction of Polar Max begins with steel block production in Pori.
Davie continues to pursue similar acquisitions and shipbuilding projects internationally, aiming to accelerate the growth and development of Finland’s maritime ecosystem and foster innovation.
Photos by: Helsinki Shipyard
Source: Helsinki Shipyard
