Updates on National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) activities from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) is Canada’s long-term plan to renew the fleets of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), while strengthening a sovereign marine industrial base that supports highly skilled jobs across the country.
In 2025, the NSS continued its transition from long-term planning to sustained delivery. It is reinforcing Canada’s ability to equip its maritime and defense partners, while ensuring that public investments translate into real industrial capacity here at home.
Additional context
This year also marked important structural changes that will improve coordination, efficiency, and delivery across Canada’s maritime and defense ecosystem.
- In September, the Canadian Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of National Defence, strengthening integration between both organizations and enhancing Canada’s operational readiness and maritime response capacity.
- In October, the Government of Canada established the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) to modernize defense procurement, improve delivery timelines, and strengthen domestic industrial capability and supply chains.
- In December, the Government introduced the Buy Canadian Policy to ensure federal procurement better supports Canadian suppliers and Canadian manufacturing wherever possible.
Taken together, these measures reflect a clear direction: a more coordinated, more efficient, and more strategic approach to how Canada invests in its maritime and defense capabilities.
Project advancements
In 2025, the National Shipbuilding Strategy achieved key milestones and made steady progress in delivering the vessels and capabilities required by Canada’s maritime partners to maintain operational readiness and carry out their critical missions. These results reflect continued progress in strengthening Canada’s shipbuilding capacity and delivering on long-term fleet renewal priorities.
The following highlights outline key achievements under the NSS in 2025.
Pillar 1: Construction of large vessels
Delivery of 2 vessels
- Royal Canadian Navy Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) 6, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Robert Hampton Gray, was delivered to the RCN Atlantic fleet – Royal Canadian Navy accepts the sixth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel
- Offshore oceanographic science vessel, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Naalak Nappaaluk, was delivered to the CCG – New Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard
Significant advancements made on the construction of, or pier-side work for, 7 vessels
- The implementation contract was awarded, and full-rate construction began on the first River-class destroyer, the future HMCS Fraser.
- Government of Canada announces contract award for the construction of the River-class destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy
- Government of Canada celebrates National Shipbuilding Strategy milestones at Irving Shipbuilding
- Construction began on the polar icebreaker being built by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards.
- Construction began on the polar icebreaker being built by Chantier Davie Canada Inc. – Government of Canada marks start of construction of its Polar Max icebreaker
- Progress was made on the final outfitting and integration work for Joint Support Ship (SIC) 1, the future HMCS Protecteur.
- Most of the structure of JSS 2, the future HMCS Preserver, was assembled.
- AOPS 7, the future CCGS Donjek, was fully consolidated in preparation for launch in Spring 2026.
- Keel was laid on AOPS 8, the future CCGS Sermilik – Keel laid on Canadian Coast Guard’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the CCGS Sermilik
Major progress made to prepare for new vessel construction
Progress was made for the pre-construction design work for the first flight of 6 multi-purpose icebreakers for the CCG.
Pillar 2: Construction of small vessels
Delivery of 2 vessels
- The 10th and final search and rescue vessel built by Hike Metal Products Ltd, the CCGS Mira Bay, was delivered to the CCG – Canadian Coast Guard celebrates the completion of the 10th and final Bay Class search and rescue vessel, the CCGS Mira Bay
- The 10th and final search and rescue vessel built by Chantier Naval Forillon, the CCGS Baie de Gaspé, was delivered to the CCG – Construction begins on Canadian Coast Guard diesel-electric hybrid vessel as the final Bay Class search and rescue vessel is completed
Significant advancements made in the design or construction of Pillar 2 vessels
- Construction began on the near-shore fishery research vessel – Construction begins on Canadian Coast Guard diesel-electric hybrid vessel as the final Bay Class search and rescue vessel is completed
- The design solicitation for the mid-shore multi-mission vessels closed, and the evaluation of the offers is ongoing.
- The design solicitation for the Royal Canadian Mountain Police next generation police coastal patrol vessels closed, and the evaluation of the offers is ongoing.
- Naval large tug 3, the future Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel (CFAV) Canso for the RCN, was delivered.
- Construction of naval large tug 4, the future CFAV Stella Maris, is progressing well.
- Naval large tug contract was amended to acquire an additional two vessels.
Pillar 3: Vessel repair, refit and maintenance projects
Existing vessels received the necessary maintenance and upgrades to ensure their continued services
- Vessel conversion project completed on CCGS Judy LaMarsh.
- Progress has been made on vessel life extension work for CCGS Tanu.
- Work completed on:
- CCGS George R. Pearkes
- CCGS Leonard J. Cowley
- CCGS Martha L. Black
- CCGS Eckaloo
- HMCS Calgary
- Progress made on work for:
- CCGS Terry Fox
- CCGS Griffon
- Docking work period began for:
- HMCS Winnipeg
- HMCS Montreal
- HMCS Fredericton
- Progress made on docking work period for:
- HMCS Halifax
- HMCS Toronto
- HMCS Harry DeWolf entered the first docking work period of its class, under the AOPS and JSS in-service support contract.
- 17 auxiliary and support vessels underwent docking work periods across a variety of repair facilities under the minor warships and auxiliary vessels contract.
Economic benefits
NSS contracts awarded between 2012 and the end of 2025 are estimated to have contributed approximately $49.7 billion ($3.3 billion per year) to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). They also created or maintained more than 25,000 jobs annually between 2012 and 2025.
Since 2012, over $11 billion in supplier development opportunities have been provided to Canadian suppliers. Over $2.3 billion of that amount has gone to small and medium sized enterprises.
NSS large ship construction contracts awarded between 2012 and the end of 2024 are estimated to contribute close to $23.1 billion ($1.6 billion annually) to Canada’s GDP. They also create or maintain close to 12,900 jobs annually, through the marine industry and its Canadian suppliers, as well as consumer spending by associated employees.
NSS small ship construction contracts awarded between 2012 and the end of 2025 are estimated to contribute approximately $692 million ($46 million annually) to Canada’s GDP. These contracts, as well as consumer spending linked to these investments, will help create or maintain close to 340 jobs annually throughout the marine industry and its Canadian suppliers.
NSS shipyards are on track to meet their economic benefits obligations under the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy. This policy contractually requires companies awarded defense procurement contracts to undertake business activity in Canada equal to the value of the contracts they have won.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) continue to implement the NSS Value Proposition (VP) to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Canadian marine industry.
The NSS Value Proposition (VP) is designed to ensure that federal shipbuilding investments generate lasting benefits for Canada’s broader marine industry and support its long-term sustainability. Under this framework, large vessel shipyards are required to reinvest an amount equivalent to 0.5% of the value of eligible contracts in three priority areas: human resources development, technology investment, and industrial development.
As of December 31, 2025, NSS shipyards delivering large vessel projects held combined Value Proposition obligations of more than $69 million and have identified or completed over $68 million in investments. These commitments are strengthening Canada’s marine industrial base by supporting workforce development, advancing innovation, and reinforcing domestic industrial capacity.
