Finland, USA, Canada sign MoU to build Icebreakers

Officials representing the governments of Finland, Canada and the United States on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers, said a government press release.

The MoU will facilitate knowledge, information, and resource sharing with shipyards, with the potential to create high-quality manufacturing jobs in the maritime infrastructure industry.

The MoU was signed following the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact signed by President Alexander Stubb, his US counterpart Joe Biden and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau in Washington in July this year.

As per the MoU, the three countries have embarked on a transformative partnership that strengthens ability to uphold international rules and maintain security in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

By jointly developing and producing world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers, the countries are laying the foundation for a resilient and competitive shipbuilding industry, capable of meeting both national and global demand for these critical assets.

This arrangement underscored collective commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Arctic and polar regions, and is a testament to the strength of allied cooperation in addressing strategic challenges.

Each of the three nations recognizes the need to enhance their Arctic and polar icebreaking capabilities to assert collective presence in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Building these specialized vessels at a faster pace, on a larger scale, and at competitive costs is a shared priority as we uphold safety and security in these strategically important areas.