Seaspan Awards Steel Contract for Canadian Icebreakers to Algoma Steel and Stigterstaal

Canadian shipyard Seaspan Shipyards announced the award of a contract to Algoma Steel and Stigterstaal as primary suppliers of steel plate for the construction of up to six Multi-Purpose Icebreakers (MPIs) for the Canadian Coast Guard. The agreement is valued at approximately $182 million and covers the supply of up to 24,000 metric tonnes of Canadian-made structural steel, about 4,000 tonnes per vessel, under Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).

The Multi-Purpose Icebreakers will operate in the Canadian Lower Arctic and marine environments, carrying out icebreaking, search and rescue, environmental response, and maritime patrol missions. They will measure approximately 100 metres in length overall, displace nearly 9,000 tonnes, and accommodate a crew of 50, featuring diesel-electric propulsion and Polar Class 4 (PC4) icebreaking capability. All vessels will be built at Seaspan's shipyards in British Columbia.

The agreement builds on the strategic alliance Seaspan, Algoma, and Stigterstaal established in 2025, and represents the largest order of polar-grade steel in the history of Algoma's plant in Sault Ste. Marie. The steel will also be used for Seaspan's flagship polar heavy icebreaker, the future CCGS Imnaryuaq. The shipyard's order book includes up to 16 Multi-Purpose Icebreakers, though this steel contract covers materials for six of them.

Algoma Steel is responsible for steel production, while Stigterstaal Canada provides processing and distribution of naval-grade steel, with a commitment to ensuring 100% Canadian content for Seaspan's projects under the NSS. Seaspan's supply chain under this strategy includes more than 880 Canadian companies and exceeds CAD 3 billion in related contracts.

Kate Morton, Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Seaspan Shipyards, noted that the company is committed to building a strong and resilient domestic supply chain, and that the agreement aims to ensure that future Coast Guard vessels are built with Canadian materials, support skilled jobs, and generate long-term value. For his part, Rajat Marwah, CEO of Algoma Steel, highlighted that this is the largest order of polar-grade steel in the history of his plant.