Arctic glaciers serve as namesake for 2 future coast guard vessels - Action News
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Arctic glaciers serve as namesake for 2 future coast guard vessels

The names of the CCGSDonjekGlacier and theCCGS Sermilik Glacier were announced Wednesday in Halifax. Once built, the two ships will primarily be used to support fisheries enforcement and surveillance missions along Canada's East Coast.

Surveillance ships part of Canada's plan to strengthen its Arctic presence

A man in a welding mask and blue coveralls makes the ceremonial first steel cut to begin construction of the CCGS Sermilik Glacier Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel.
Welder Brad Bishop does the commemorative steel cutting to signify the start of construction of the Arctic and offshore patrol ship CCGS Sermilik Glacier at a ceremony in Halifax on Wednesday. (Kelly Clark/The Canadian Press)

A ceremonial good-luck coin has been welded into the keel of one of the Canadian Coast Guard's two future Arctic and offshore patrol ships both of which will be named after glaciers.

The names of the CCGSDonjekGlacier and theCCGS Sermilik Glacier were announced Wednesday at Halifax's Irving Shipbuilding, where the keel of the Donjek Glacier is already complete.

The Donjek Glacier is named after a glacier in Yukon's Kluane National Park. The Sermilik Glacier's namesake is found in Nunavut's Sirmilik National Park and its name is anInuktitut word meaning "place of glaciers."

Once fully built, the primary purpose of these two ships will be to support fisheries enforcement and surveillance missions along Canada's East Coast.

A model of a red and white ship sits in a plexiglass display case on a pedestal that says
The Canadian Coast Guard's two future Arctic and offshore patrol vessels will be named after glaciers in the Yukon and Nunavut. They are currently under construction in Halifax at Irving Shipbuilding. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

As a secondary function, theice-ready ships will be able to both assist in search-and-rescue missions andicebreaking operations and alsostrengthen Canada's position in the Arctic, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher said at the unveiling.

"We want to ensure that the Canadian Coast Guard has everything they need to protect Canada's marine environment while ensuring our country's sovereignty by maintaining a strong presence in our water, especially in the Arctic," Fisher said.

A commemorative coin is placed on a portion of the keel of CCGS Donjeck Glacier and the future coast guard ship's naming ceremony.
A commemorative coin is about to be welded into a cutout near the keel of the CCGS Donjek Glacier on Wednesday, in order to bring good luck to its future crew. (Kelly Clark/The Canadian Press)

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 began in August 2023.

The ships will replace two of five similar patrol vessels in the Canadian Coast Guard'sfleet.

As of the end of 2023, more than $26.5 billion in total contracts hadbeen awarded under the strategy.

Broader emphasis on Arctic security

Canada has beenputting greater emphasis on Arctic security.

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

Russia has 40 icebreakers, with more in production, and China considers itself a "near Arctic power."

Also at the NATO summit, Defence Minister Bill Blair said that Canada is taking the first steps to procure up to 12 conventionally powered,under-ice submarines to replace the aging Victoria-class fleet.

Following the release of the defence policy update in the spring, both Blair and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated it's a matter of when Canada begins buying new submarines not if.

The Canadian government also confirmed itspurchase ofa strategically located 21,000-square-foot aircraft hangar in Inuvik, N.W.T., earlier this month for $8.6 million.

The move received praise from northerners and security experts after foreign buyers showed interest in the hangar.

As reported by CBC 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 join a submarine procurement program involving the two other friendly nations.

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

With files from CBC's Murray Brewster and April Hudson