A Canadian shipbuilder’s ascent from outcast to key player in Arctic defence
Davie Shipbuilding is playing a crucial role in the construction of Canada's new heavy icebreaker, the Polar Max, at a shipyard in Helsinki. This collaboration highlights the importance of icebreakers for asserting Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic, especially as the region becomes more accessible. The Canadian government is investing in new vessels to enhance its Arctic presence, responding to concerns over security and operational capabilities in the area.
- ▪The Polar Max will be the most powerful diesel icebreaker in the world, incorporating electric power.
- ▪Davie Shipbuilding has transformed from being overlooked to a key player in Arctic defence through partnerships with Finland and the U.S.
- ▪Canada's current fleet of icebreakers is insufficient compared to Russia's, prompting the establishment of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort in 2024.
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The construction workers below look like ants operating little toy machines as we scale a short metal staircase roughly nine storeys above ground level at the dry dock in the heart of Helsinki. A rickety elevator ride and the stairs bring us eye-level with a cramped cab in which the overhead crane operator typically sits, controlling the gargantuan machine that towers above the rest of the dock and moves large loads for a ship under construction, one load at a time. It’s a critical position and not for the faint of heart.From our perch near the rafters, we hear loud clangs and watch as plumes of dust erupt from the gaping 280-metre-long cavity below where a ship typically sits while it is being built or in for repairs.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Globe and Mail.
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