A Canadian shipbuilder is in a complicated position after selling blueprints to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security amid increased military activity in the Arctic Ocean.
Six multi-purpose ice-faring ships will join the U.S. Coast Guard’s fleet of arctic vessels over the next decade — all of them designed by North-Vancouver Seaspan.
The White House says the purpose of the program is to protect “American sovereignty” and defend national interests.
The contract was signed on Dec. 29, 2025 — before U.S. President Trump recently threatened to increase American presence in the North.
At the World Economic Forum on Jan. 20, Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed Greenland’s right to self-determination, saying that Canada is working with NATO to “further secure the alliance’s northern and western flanks.”
Carney added that Canada will be moving away from trade dependencies with larger powers.
Seaspan says the designs were initially used for Canadian Coast Guard vessels and then repurposed and sold south of the border.
But spokesperson David Hargreaves tells 1130 NewsRadio that Canada still benefits from the deal.
“I think we’re contributing overall very much to Canadian security in the Arctic,” he said.
“And then I guess you could argue that we’re contributing to U.S. security in the Arctic too.”
He says the Canadian government was involved and is “acutely aware” of the deal.
“It’s super complicated right now.”
Samuel Roscoe, an assistant professor of business education at the UBC Sauder School of Business and expert on the intersection of supply chains and geopolitics, says he doesn’t see how any but the U.S. Coast Guard benefits.
“They are the ones that ultimately get the ships,” Roscoe said.
He says Trump’s claims about Arctic defence have dramatically changed the way he views the contract.
“I think with threats to Greenland, threats to Canada’s sovereignty… tweeting about Canada covered in the U.S. flag, I think it’s very clear that U.S. militaries [are] to look after U.S. assets,” he explained.
“When we’re selling things to the U.S. Coast Guard, that’s for the U.S.’ benefit. It’s not for Canadian benefit anymore.”
On Seaspan’s part, Hargreaves says he believes the deal has huge economic potential for Canada.
“We fully expect that there will be a bunch of Canadian suppliers that will be part of that U.S. government icebreaker program, which is very exciting for Canada,” he said.
Hargreaves argues “it’s actually the bigger benefit overall to Canada,” as many systems onboard the vessels are Canadian-built, meaning more jobs and profits to Canadian firms.
Roscoe isn’t entirely sold on the potential financial benefits.
“While we might have some Canadian firms contributing the parts, ideally what we would’ve liked to have seen is the construction final assembly to have been done in Canada,” he said.
“The optics are not good.”
Roscoe thinks the contact — amid Trump’s threats of annexation — won’t sit well with the public.
“A lot of people are going to begin to question Canadian involvement in any type of sales to U.S. military-based operations.”
He feels scrutiny will be especially pointed as American officials have claimed the ships will “defend U.S. sovereignty, secure critical shipping lanes, and counter our adversaries’ presence in the Arctic region.”
“[The U.S] sees these cutters as sort of a military advantage,” he said, imploring the Canadian government to examine the decision-making behind the agreement.
“I don’t think the Canadian public is going to be a huge fan of this.”
Roscoe feels the contract isn’t in alignment with Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum.
“[We] seem to be moving definitely away from relying on the U.S. for our own security,” he said, explaining that the prime minister has promised significant investments in the Canadian military.
“As a Canadian citizen going forward, [I want] to keep more of the supply chain in Canada.”
As for Seaspan, Roscoe isn’t sure what to expect.
“I think we’ll have to see what the public pressure, public backlash, is like. If things calm down … then Seaspan might be able to weather this storm.”
The U.S. Coast Guard says it plans to launch its first home-built ship in 2029.
