Heddle Shipyards and Seaspan Shipyards will be working together to build boats for the Canadian Coast Guard.
Officials say if Seaspan Shipyards is awarded the Polar Icebreaker contract, Heddle will fabricate ship modules at shipyards in St. Catharines, Hamilton, and Thunder Bay creating long-term work for Heddle and supporting thousands of jobs over multiple years.
Canada's current Polar Icebreaker, the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, will need to be replaced by 2029.
The ship is capable of operation in the Arctic and provides year-round marine trade, resupplies Arctic communities, and conducts search and rescue and environmental response operations.