WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN: Wisconsin has a strong shipbuilding industry, and exporters might find opportunities to become part of the supply chain.
Shipbuilding and the overall marine industry carry a lot of weight in Canada—the country with the longest coastline in the world.
In 2024, Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) marked a number of accomplishments involving naval vessels, icebreakers, and a vessel for scientific research, the government said, in a March 2025 report.
The developments include:
• A new Canadian Navy Arctic and offshore patrol boat, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Frédérick Rolette, was launched—the fifth of six vessels designed to conduct surveillance in Canada’s waters in a five-year, nearly $5 billion CAD ($3.6 billion USD) project.
• Construction began on the HMCS Fraser, the first river-class destroyer, designed to replace older Iroquois-class destroyers. The project involves building 15 state-of-the-art warships for Canada’s Navy.
• Two large naval tugs and two search-and-rescue lifeboats were delivered.
• Contracts were awarded for design of a new fleet of icebreakers and for upgrading several existing vessels.
• An offshore oceanographic science vessel was launched. It will be the Canadian Coast Guard’s largest dedicated science ship, aimed at improving understanding of marine life in the Atlantic Ocean.
NSS contracts awarded between 2012 and 2023 were estimated to contribute nearly $30 billion CAD ($22 billion USD) to Canada’s gross domestic product and create or maintain more than 20,400 jobs annually between 2012 and 2024, the government said.
In a separate report, the government said Canada had 210 registered commercial fleets as of December 2023, including 55 cargo ships, 40 dry bulk vessels, 25 tankers, and 22 other vessels.
They transported a total of 351 million metric tonnes (387 tons) of goods through Canada’s 560 port facilities in 2023, a 3.4% increase in volume over 2022.
Canada’s marine sector includes more than 1,000 employers and provides jobs for more than 100,000 skilled workers in both the private and public sectors, according to a 2022 report by the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation.
However, the industry needs to hire and train 8,300 more employees by 2029 to meet demand and to replace retirees, just for domestic vessel operations, the foundation said, in 2025 report.
The NSS was implemented in 2010 to support Canada’s marine industry and build ships in Canada for the Royal Canadian Navy, Coast Guard Canada, and Transport Canada.
With Wisconsin’s expertise in shipbuilding, there may be partnership or supply chain opportunities for small and midsize businesses to provide goods and services to shipyards and other suppliers involved in shipbuilding, including Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd., Chantier Davie Canada, and Irving Shipbuilding.
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