$900M Science Ship Delivered by Seaspan After Eight-Year Delay

Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards has delivered the Canadian Coast Guard’s new flagship science vessel, the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, marking a major milestone for Canada’s oceanographic capability.

The Naalak Nappaaluk is intended to replace the decommissioned CCGS Hudson, which had served for nearly six decades before being retired in 2022. 

Designed as a purpose-built platform for oceanographic research while retaining utility for coast guard tasks, the new vessel brings modern laboratory facilities, specialised sampling systems, and ice-capable hull standards to Canada’s science fleet. 

Built to Polar Class 6 (PC6) standards for light ice operations, the Naalak Nappaaluk is capable of operating in higher-latitude waters, extending Canada’s capacity to conduct science in northern regions. 

With an approximate displacement of 5,000 tonnes, the ship is fitted with multiple laboratory spaces, a seawater sampling system for conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) and oxygen profiling, a drop keel housing a sensor suite and a stern A-frame for launching and recovering scientific gear.

The delivery completes the construction phase of a project that was beset by setbacks. Construction began under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), the federal programme aimed at rebuilding domestic shipbuilding capacity and renewing government fleets. 

But the programme suffered repeated postponements during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later endured schedule shifts as priorities within the NSS evolved. As a result, Naalak Nappaaluk arrived about eight years later than initially planned.

Initial budgets placed the vessel in the order of about $80 million when the build was first authorised, however, the reported final delivered cost reached roughly $910 million. 

That more than tenfold increase represents one of the most significant percentage overruns in recent shipbuilding projects and has prompted scrutiny from policymakers, industry observers, and the public. 

Government and industry leaders described the handover as both a strategic and industrial success. Seaspan said the delivery was a proud achievement for Canadian industry and a validation of the NSS’s intent to create long-term employment and domestic supply‑chain opportunities. 

“With the delivery of the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, Canada’s largest dedicated science vessel, the National Shipbuilding Strategy has helped create high-quality jobs, strengthen our shipbuilding industry, and expand the Coast Guard’s scientific and operational capabilities,” said Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, Joël Lightbound. 

“It shows how strategic federal investments in shipbuilding support Canadian industry while enhancing our ability to monitor, understand, and protect our oceans”.

Following delivery, the Naalak Nappaaluk will sail to Patricia Bay where Canadian Coast Guard crews will undertake equipment familiarisation, systems checks, and training exercises. 

Once the ship’s company is fully trained and the vessel has completed initial trials, she will make the transit to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

From there, the ship will support oceanographic surveys, fisheries science, environmental monitoring and other national research programmes, while also providing surge SAR and sovereignty capability when required.

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