CCGS John G Diefenbaker icebreaker

CCGS John G. Diefenbaker is the lead vessel in a two-ship series of Canadian Arctic icebreakers of the new "Polar Class 2," based on Vard Marine's "VARD 9-206" design. "CCGS" stands for "Canadian Coast Guard Ship." Once completed (currently on order and scheduled for commissioning in December 2029), John Diefenbaker will become the Canadian Coast Guard’s flagship, replacing the current flagship, CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent (built in 1969). The Louis S. St-Laurent is currently Canada's largest icebreaker, with a gross tonnage of 11,345 tons, a 29.4 MW powerplant, 20.1 MW propulsion power, a range of 26,700 mi (43,000 km), and an endurance of 205 days.

CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent is scheduled for decommissioning in 2030, and CCGS Terry Fox is set to retire in 2032.

The new Canadian icebreakers will support a wide range of Arctic missions in multi-year and heavy ice conditions, including asserting Canada’s sovereignty and maintaining its presence in the Arctic Ocean, national security operations, scientific research (including meteorological and ice monitoring), ship escort and emergency services (such as search and rescue and assistance for commercial shipping), support for remote communities (resupply and logistics), and environmental protection (including fisheries conservation and marine ecosystem response).

The Canadian Coast Guard is tasked with patrolling and protecting the world’s longest national coastline (over 150,000 mi / 243,000+ km), approximately 70% of which is Arctic. As of 2022, the Canadian Coast Guard operates the world’s second-largest icebreaking fleet, with 18 icebreakers—second only to Russia, which has more than 40 active vessels (including 27 ocean-going icebreakers) and 11 newbuilds (under construction or on order, including nuclear-powered units). The "Polar Class 2" ship construction is expected to generate approximately 700 new jobs (~350 at each shipyard) and between 1,400–2,500 additional jobs across Canada’s marine industry (in sectors such as manufacturing, supply, and logistics). This is in addition to CAD 17.49 billion in contracts already awarded to Canadian shipbuilders under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) for new vessels for the Canadian Navy and Coast Guard.

The "VARD 9-206" project is a "Polar Icebreaker" designed by Vard Marine Inc—a company founded in 1983 and owned by the Fincantieri Group through its subsidiary Vard Marine US Inc. Vard Marine specializes in naval architecture and marine engineering, developing designs for various vessel types across several series: VARD 1 (Platform Supply), VARD 2 (Anchor Handling Tug Supply), VARD 3 (Offshore Subsea Construction), VARD 4 (Renewable Energy), VARD 6 (Ferries), VARD 7 (Naval and Security), and VARD 9 (Specialized vessels, including icebreakers, polar research ships, and floating powerplants). It also designs CSS DESIGNS (Compact Semi-Submersibles). The VARD 9 series includes ice-strengthened vessels for polar research, offshore support, patrol, ferries (RoPax/cargo and passenger), RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off such as car carriers), and cruise ships. Among Vard Marine-designed icebreakers are the USCGC Healy (2000-built, Project WAGB-20) and USCGC Mackinaw (2006-built, Project WLBB-30).

Each of the two sister ships (John Diefenbaker and TBN) will be constructed by a different shipbuilder. This decision was announced in May 2021, when the Canadian government revealed that Seaspan Shipyards (Vancouver, British Columbia, part of Seaspan ULC) and Davie Yards Inc (Quebec, formerly Davie Shipbuilding) would be awarded the contracts.

The budget for the expanded "Polar Class 2 Icebreaker" program has been revised and increased three times: in 2008 (CAD 721 million for one unit), in 2013 (CAD 1.3 billion for one unit), and in 2021 (CAD 7.25 billion for two units, or CAD 3.625 billion per ship / USD 2.89B / EUR 2.45B / GBP 2.1B). The first unit, John Diefenbaker, was originally scheduled to enter service in 2017.

John Diefenbaker Vessel Details

The ship is named after John George Diefenbaker (1895–1979), Canada’s 13th Prime Minister (in office from June 1957 to April 1963).

• Displacement: 26,000 tonnes
• Length overall (LOA): 158 m (518 ft)
• Beam (width): 28 m (92 ft)
• Maximum draft: 10.5 m (34 ft)
• Maximum depth: 13.5 m (44 ft)
• Ice Class: PC2 / "Polar Class 2 Icebreaker"
• Icebreaking capability: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at 3 knots
• Maximum speed: 20 knots (37 kph / 23 mph) in open water
• Service speed: 12 knots (22 kph / 14 mph) in "Douglas Sea State 3" (waves up to 1.3 m / 4 ft)
• Maximum ice speed: 3 knots (5.6 kph / 3.5 mph) in ice up to 2.5 m thick
• Range: 28,600 nautical miles (53,000 km / 32,900 mi)
• Endurance: 270 days (logistical), 25 days (at full power without refueling)
• Crew: 60 (core), plus up to 40 additional mission-specific personnel
• Passenger capacity: 25 (accommodated in dedicated staterooms)
• Aircraft: two medium-lift support helicopters
• Aviation facilities: Helideck (for refueling larger helicopters), Helicopter Hangar

The powerplant is diesel-electric, featuring five main engines (diesel generators distributed across two engine rooms: 2×9 MW and 3×8 MW), with a total output of 42 MW.

The hybrid propulsion system includes two wing shaft lines (each 11 MW) powering aft fixed-pitch propellers (FPPs), and one azimuthing bow thruster (12 MW), for a combined propulsion output of 34 MW.

Onboard facilities include modular mission spaces, laboratories, a scientific moon pool, a cargo hold, a garage, and several cranes with varying lifting capacities. The moon pool (also known as a "wet porch") is an opening in the hull that provides direct water access, enabling deployment of underwater instruments (such as ROVs and AUVs) and diver operations.

Note: For additional details on the project's history and shipbuilders, visit the ship's Wiki page.