**MILAN** — Canadian and Finnish shipbuilders have presented different offers to the United States regarding the production of icebreakers. The U.S. must decide between prioritizing speed or supporting its sovereign shipyard industry.
In January, President Donald Trump expressed interest in acquiring 40 new icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard, prompting Finland to pursue a potential significant deal with Washington. Before a meeting with Trump in Florida last month, Finnish President Alexander Stubb mentioned that he hoped “icebreaker diplomacy” would help maintain good relations with the U.S.
Canada is also in the running, with a major shipbuilder, Seaspan, looking to secure some of the business. David Hargreaves, senior vice president of business development at Seaspan, explained that Finland aims to have the U.S. either build the icebreakers in Finland or use Finnish designs for construction in American shipyards. Discussions have gained traction, with recent visits from U.S. congressmen and talks with American shipyards capable of building such vessels.
According to U.S. law, major components of Coast Guard vessels must generally be built in American shipyards to support national industries and enhance security, although the president can authorize exceptions. Trump has emphasized the need for quick delivery of new vessels, as existing Coast Guard icebreakers are nearing retirement, while also aiming to boost domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
Hargreaves commented on the options available, noting that if the U.S. prioritizes schedule, Finland could be the right choice. Conversely, if the focus remains on building a sovereign shipbuilding capability, Finland may not fit the criteria. A hybrid model could also be feasible, where the U.S. purchases several icebreakers from Finland while simultaneously initiating a program to manufacture the rest domestically.
While Trump mentioned the need for 40 new vessels, a 2023 Coast Guard fleet mix analysis estimated a requirement of 8 to 9 polar icebreakers, including 4 to 5 heavy ones, to conduct future Arctic missions effectively.
Trade relations between Canada and the U.S. have recently been strained due to tariffs and retaliatory actions. On April 9, Canada extended tariffs on U.S. automobiles and parts, while the U.S. announced a 90-day pause on certain tariffs, although most Canadian imports still faced a 10% rate.
Despite the tensions in trade relations, the shipbuilding industry remains largely unaffected, with collaboration continuing between the two nations. Hargreaves stated, “We are a business… Selling our design… is a business opportunity – we are not going to get caught up in some of the current fuss.”
Additionally, the three countries are working on implementing the trilateral Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact), which aims to unite Finnish, Canadian, and American expertise on Arctic issues. Representatives are set to meet in May to discuss concrete steps relating to icebreaker design, production, shipyard workforce development, and polar region research.
**Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo** is a Europe correspondent for Defense News. She covers military procurement and international security topics and specializes in the aviation sector. She is based in Milan, Italy.
