ALMACO’s subsidiary signs $72m contract to outfit icebreaker
Le Groupe ALMACO, a subsidiary of the ALMACO Group, has signed a contract exceeding C$100m ($72.2m) with Chantier Davie Canada, a Canadian shipbuilder, for the outfitting of the Polar Max Icebreaker.
This vessel is a flagship project under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and is pivotal to the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) future fleet.
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The outfitting strategy for Polar Max represents a global partnership between Davie and ALMACO, encompassing both Canada and Finland.
The hull will be built at Davie’s Helsinki Shipyard, with Le Groupe ALMACO delivering the interior accommodation spaces and other critical areas at this stage.
Simultaneously, in Québec, Davie’s shipbuilders and Le Groupe ALMACO will oversee the design, procurement, and fabrication of the vessel’s 1,400-tonne superstructure.
This dual-build approach harnesses expertise across two continents and accelerates the project timeline by enabling significant tasks to be carried out concurrently in both sites.
After the hull is delivered from Finland to Canada, the superstructure will be assembled at Davie’s facility located in Lévis, Québec.
Construction of the superstructure is set to commence in late summer, with final integration and delivery of the vessel to Canada aimed for 2030.
Davie co-owner and CEO James Davies said: “Polar Max is a once-in-a-generation project that demands the very best from every partner involved.
“Our work with ALMACO on Asterix proved that when we combine their world-class expertise with Canadian ingenuity, we deliver faster, better and with greater impact. This is a lasting partnership which will not only help deliver Polar Max on time and to the highest standard – it will also create jobs and develop skills and industrial capability here in Canada.”
ALMACO has announced plans to expand its operations to support the Polar Max project while also establishing a long-term presence in Canada.
The company established its Québec operations in 2022 and will open a new office in Québec City in September 2025.
Moreover, Québec will become home to a “cabin factory” in Canada, where Le Groupe ALMACO will manufacture pre-fabricated modular cabins. This facility is set to enhance the logistics, efficiency, and quality control aspects of their projects.
ALMACO’s involvement with the Polar Max is expected to create new employment opportunities in Québec, fostering local talent and promoting sustained growth within the province’s advanced marine industry.
Davie and ALMACO plan to work closely with subcontractors throughout Québec and the wider Canadian shipbuilding sector, aiming to distribute expertise and economic advantages across the country.
ALMACO Group co-owner and executive chairman of the board Vilhelm Roberts said: “Working with Davie again is a proud moment for us.
“We’ve maintained a close relationship with their team ever since the Asterix Project, and this new contract confirms our shared ambition to deliver world-class vessels while growing local expertise and capacity. We’re not just outfitting a ship—we’re helping to build the future of Canadian shipbuilding together.”
Furthermore, Davie announced plans in July to acquire Gulf Copper & Manufacturing’s shipbuilding assets located in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.
The acquisition is pending financial, legal, and regulatory approvals, including land lease negotiations with the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees and is expected to be finalised by summer 2025.
