Arctic glaciers to serve as namesake for 2 future Coast Guard vessels

A ceremonial lucky coin is welded into the keel of one of two future Canadian Coast Guard Arctic and Coastal Patrol vessels, both of which will be named after glaciers.

The names of the CCGS Donjek Glacier and the CCGS Sermilik Glacier were announced Wednesday at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, where the keel of the Donjek Glacier has already been completed.

The Donjek Glacier is named after a glacier in Kluane National Park in the Yukon. Its namesake, the Sermilik Glacier, is in Sirmilik National Park in Nunavut — and its name is an Inuktitut word meaning “place of glaciers.”

Once the vessels are fully completed, they will primarily be used to monitor fishing along Canada’s east coast.

A second function of the ice-resistant ships is that they can assist in search and rescue missions and icebreaking operations, as well as strengthen Canada’s position in the Arctic, Darren Fisher, MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, said at the unveiling.

“We want to ensure that the Canadian Coast Guard has everything it needs to protect Canada’s marine environment while also safeguarding our country’s sovereignty by maintaining a strong presence in our waters, particularly in the Arctic,” Fisher said.

The two vessels are being built as part of the country’s national shipbuilding strategy. The contract was first announced in May 2019, and construction of the Donjek Glacier is set to begin in August 2023.

The ships replace two of five similar patrol vessels in the Canadian Coast Guard fleet.

By the end of 2023, a total of more than $26.5 billion in contracts had been awarded under the strategy.

Broader emphasis on Arctic security

Canada is placing increasing emphasis on Arctic security.

Earlier this month, at the NATO summit in Washington, Canada announced a pact with the United States and Finland to build icebreakers for the region.

Russia has 40 icebreakers, with more in production. China considers itself a “near-Arctic power.”

Defence Minister Bill Blair also said at the NATO summit that Canada is taking initial steps to purchase up to 12 conventionally powered submarines to replace its aging Victoria-class fleet.

Following the release of the defence policy update in the spring, both Blair and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that the question is when Canada will buy new submarines, not if.

The Canadian government earlier this month also confirmed the purchase of a strategically located 21,000-square-foot aircraft hangar in Inuvik, NWT, for $8.6 million.

The move was praised by northerners and security experts after foreign buyers showed interest in the hangar.

As CBC reported in June, Canada is in talks with Germany and Norway for a trilateral security pact focused on the North Atlantic and Arctic waters. As part of these talks, Canada has been invited to participate in a submarine procurement program involving the other two friendly nations.

The German-Norwegian partnership is expected to begin delivering boats in 2026, but that date is still uncertain.