A Made-in-Canada Solution for U.S. Coast Guard Ice Class Ships

The U.S. Coast Guard is on the hunt for ships capable of navigating icy waters, while the Royal Canadian Navy has just welcomed its sixth Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) into service. This acquisition is part of a broader initiative to modernize various naval assets. The AOPS,constructed by Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax,showcase some interesting capabilities compared to what the Coast Guard is looking for.

The completion of the AOPS program will pave the way for Irving Shipbuilding to start constructing new surface combatants aimed at replacing aging Halifax-Class frigates. However, delays in design and contracts could leave a gap in production that risks losing skilled workers at the yard. To counter this issue, Canada’s government intervened by commissioning two additional AOPS vessels specifically for the canadian Coast Guard.

Historically speaking, Canada has often assigned vessels ill-suited for their intended roles within the Coast Guard fleet—think old ships from various sources like former police fleets or speculative builds meant for offshore oil operations.

Take the example of an early vessel like the *Labrador*, a Wind-class icebreaker initially built for military use but later transferred to serve in civilian capacities until its retirement in ’87. While it had its moments as an icebreaker from ’54 to ’57 under Navy command, it was far from ideal when repurposed; it struggled with stability and required expert handling during operations.

Despite upgrades made post-military service that improved living conditions aboard *Labrador*, they still fell short of what one woudl expect from a dedicated Coast Guard ship—leading crews to adopt a saying: “Seamanship is mastering poor design.”

Fast forward today: construction on two new AOPS vessels is already underway with expected delivery dates set for 2026 and ’27 respectively. It might be worth considering selling these ships to U.S., using those funds towards building more specialized vessels tailored specifically for Canadian needs.

With current exchange rates favoring nearly thirty percent gain on transactions between CAD and USD, this could be beneficial economically—though uncertainties around tariffs and trade relations remain hurdles.

if both nations can strike up an agreement here, it would not only provide quick access to much-needed assets but also allow Canada’s coast guard greater autonomy over their fleet designs rather than relying on military-derived models.

*Jack Gallagher runs Hammurabi Marine Consulting after dedicating over two decades serving with Canada’s Coast Guard.*

The views expressed are solely those of Jack Gallagher and do not reflect those of The Maritime Executive.