**Location and Company Overview**
Milan, Italy – The Canadian shipbuilding company Davie is focusing on the need for icebreakers in Sweden, following its announcement to acquire U.S. shipyard sites for building these vessels.
**Public Announcement and Strategic Intent**
Davie’s CEO, James Davies, publicized the company’s intentions via LinkedIn, highlighting that Sweden’s aging icebreaker fleet requires urgent renewal. He emphasized that Davie’s shipyards are ready for this endeavor.
**Assessment of Sweden’s Icebreaker Fleet**
A recent report by Helsinki Shipyard, owned by Davie since 2023, assessed Sweden’s insufficient icebreaking capabilities. Currently, Sweden operates six icebreakers, some built decades ago. In 2022, the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA), or Sjöfartsverket, issued a tender for two new icebreakers, with an expected delivery of the first in 2026.
**Tender Status and Future Plans**
The SMA reported in 2024 that no bids met the specified requirements, causing the tender process to stall, according to Swedish media outlet Sjöfartstidningen. The acquisition of new vessels is still under consideration, but construction decisions have not been finalized, as noted by Aker Arctic, a Finnish consulting firm.
**Davie’s Initiative in Sweden**
In response to the identified needs, Davie organized a seminar in Sweden on June 25, discussing the urgency for new iceboats. Last month, the company announced plans to purchase two American shipyards in Texas from Gulf Copper and Manufacturing Corp., aiming to upgrade these sites for Arctic icebreaker production.
**Corporate Structure and International Relations**
Despite concerns regarding U.S.-Canada relations, especially under President Trump’s administration, Davie remains optimistic about its U.S. expansion plans. Paul Barrett, Davie’s Chief Communication Officer, clarified that the company is a private international shipbuilding group, majority-owned by U.K. citizens, with significant operations in Quebec and Finland.
**Ownership and Leadership**
Davie has been owned by James Davies and Alex Vicefield since 2012, both British citizens. The parent group, Inocea, is also based in the U.K.
**Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations**
Davie is a key partner in the trilateral Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact), established in 2024, which aims to combine expertise from Finland, Canada, and the U.S. for building advanced iceboats for year-round Arctic operations. National coordinators and government representatives from these countries met on June 12 to strengthen icebreaking capabilities, discussing areas such as information-sharing and workforce development.
**Next Steps for Collaboration**
The involved parties are scheduled to reconvene this fall, with the next meeting taking place in the United States to further advance their collaborative efforts.
**Author Credentials**
Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo is a Europe correspondent for Defense News, focusing on military procurement and international security, with expertise in the aviation sector. She is based in Milan, Italy.
