Page 54: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2025)

ICEBREAKERS ICE PACT COUNTRIES & NATO ALLIES

Canada • Finland • USA

ICEBREAKERS

By Philip Lewis, Director of Research, Intelatus perating in extremely It should be noted that once many of and security interests, particularly to harsh and unpredictable the vessels now under construction or counter growing Russian Northern Sea environment of the Arc- on order are delivered, we will begin Route and China’s Polar Silk Road tic, Antarctic, Baltic, the to see older vessels being retired and activity in the Arctic, acknowledges a

OGreat Lakes and St. Law- as a consequence net ? eet size may not combined intent to design, build and rence Seaway, the Azov and Caspian be increased signi? cantly by the end of maintain new “best-in-class” icebreak-

Seas and various ports, harbors and in- this decade. ing capacity in the three countries, land waterways pose many challenges highlighting the need to developing and hazards to navigation. The global shipyard, engineering and marine equip-

ICE Pact Countries ? eet of active, under construction and ment supplier capabilities and capacity.

& NATO allies ordered icebreakers which support ice Here we review the leading icebreak- management amounts to 300 vessels, ers players, including what drives their Canada close to 80% of which are active and activity and the ? eet pro? le. Canada has 58 active, under con- in service. Nearly three-quarters of The USA, Canada and Finland ? nal- struction and on order icebreakers.

the ? eet is operated by the “big three”, ized the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort

Russia, Canada and Finland. 130 are (ICE Pact) at the end of 2024 , an MoU Northwest passage

IACS Polar Class PC2 to PC5. to support the production of arctic and There are three main potential

The ? eet of 130 Category A polar polar icebreakers. Speci? c details of waterways passing through areas class icebreakers excludes some naval how the pact will work are still being traditionally closed by sea ice that can patrol vessels for which Polar Class ice discussed. The MOU, effectively a shorten the shipping distance between capabilities are not identi? ed. statement of intent to align economic Europe, Canada and the U.S Northwest

Icebreaker Fleet Pro? le

Source: Intelatus Global Partners 54 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • November 2025

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