Wärtsilä engines set to drive efficiency in new Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker

The Canadian Coast Guard’s new polar icebreaker will be powered by Wärtsilä  engines known for their Guinness World Record efficiency. The Wärtsilä 31 engine model was selected to prioritize fuel efficiency in what will be the flagship of the Canadian Coast Guard’s icebreaking fleet.

The new 158-metre (518-foot) vessel is in the process of being designed and built at Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards, a Green Marine participant. Planned for PC2 conditions, the icebreaker will have four 16-cylinder and two 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 31 model engines, delivering 47 megawatts of power. The engines will be equipped with selective catalytic reduction systems for IMO Tier III compliance.

Wärtsilä is also supplying a stainless-steel ice-class propeller and its NACOS Platinum navigation system. 

Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for 2025. The new vessel will replace the retiring CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent as the largest icebreaker in the Canadian Coast Guard fleet.