# Irving Shipbuilding

> Irving Shipbuilding is the Halifax-based prime contractor building Canada's naval combat fleet under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Its work spans Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, the coming River-class destroyers, and maintenance of existing warships. The company earns primarily through long-duration federal procurement and service contracts, while coordinating a Canadian supply chain that reaches nearly 700 organizations.

- **Founded:** 1994
- **Headquarters:** Halifax, Canada
- **Team size:** More than 2,400 shipbuilders.
- **Products:** Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, Canadian Coast Guard AOPS variants, River-class destroyers, Ship repair and in-service support, Halifax-class modernization
- **Notable:** Selected in 2011 as Canada's strategic combat-vessel shipbuilder under the National Shipbuilding Strategy., Modernized Halifax Shipyard with more than C$400 million of company investment after selection., Delivered all six Harry DeWolf-class patrol ships to the Royal Canadian Navy by August 2025.

## Products & services

- **Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships** — Construction and delivery of six 103-metre ice-capable patrol vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy.
- **Canadian Coast Guard AOPS variants** — Two modified 104.7-metre patrol ships for fisheries enforcement, search and rescue, icebreaking support and Arctic presence.
- **River-class destroyers** — Design integration and construction of up to 15 Type 26-derived surface combatants for the Royal Canadian Navy; full-rate production began in 2025.
- **Ship repair and in-service support** — Docking, refit, modernization and maintenance work for Royal Canadian Navy vessels, including Halifax-class frigates.
- **Halifax-class modernization** — Mid-life upgrades and combat-system modernization work on Canada's Halifax-class frigates.

## Achievements

- Selected in 2011 as Canada's strategic combat-vessel shipbuilder under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
- Modernized Halifax Shipyard with more than C$400 million of company investment after selection.
- Delivered all six Harry DeWolf-class patrol ships to the Royal Canadian Navy by August 2025.
- Began full-rate production of the first River-class destroyer in April 2025.
- Launched the future CCGS Donjek, the first Coast Guard AOPS variant, in April 2026.
- Reported first-time quality rising from 80% in 2020 to 97% in 2023.
- Built a supply network reaching nearly 700 Canadian organizations and almost C$15 billion in spending commitments by June 2026.
- Pathways to Shipbuilding for Indigenous Canadians won a 2019 Colleges and Institutes Canada Program Excellence Gold Award.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — The keel was laid for the first River-class destroyer, the future HMCS Fraser.
- **2026-04** — The future CCGS Donjek, the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship for the Canadian Coast Guard, launched in Bedford Basin.
- **2026-04** — Irving Shipbuilding and Hanwha Ocean outlined potential cooperation across sustainment, workforce, supply chains and facility modernization.
- **2026-02** — Russel Metals received a River-class metals supply contract, extending a supplier relationship that began during Halifax-class construction.
- **2025-08** — The Royal Canadian Navy accepted HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, completing its six-ship Harry DeWolf-class order.
- **2025-03** — Canada awarded the implementation contract for the first three River-class destroyers; the first-batch project cost is estimated at C$22.2 billion, including government-furnished systems and support costs.

## Links

- Website: https://shipsforcanada.ca
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/irvingshipbuilding
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/IrvingShipbuild
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/IrvingShipbuildingInc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irvingshipbuild/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrvingShipbuildingInc/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/irving-shipbuilding
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Last updated: 2026-08-23