Celebrating a milestone for the Canadian Coast Guard fleet

Every day, Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) teams brave the tides to keep our waterways safe for mariners, protect the marine environment and respond to calls for help.

Since 2015, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has assisted the CCG with a different kind of mission: to build 20 new high-endurance search and rescue lifeboats to serve Canadians across the country when they're on the water. As each ship is named after a Canadian bay, they are known as the Bay-class vessels.

In November of 2025, Canada celebrated the delivery of the final ship in the series, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Mira Bay. The 20 new lifeboats are now stationed across Canada, strengthening the CCG's capacity for rapid and effective emergency response.

PSPC's marine procurement experts have been involved in the project from its earliest phases through to the delivery of each ship at its service destination. Their support has helped chart the course of this rescue craft renewal initiative.

Embarking on a design

The CCG started off with the design for a British lifeboat model, which was modified for Canadian conditions and operations. PSPC awarded a contract to a Canadian naval architectural firm to finalize the revised concept. The main requirements were to convert the ship's body from fibreglass to aluminum while updating the equipment and machinery for service on this side of the ocean.

Based on the resulting design, PSPC invited shipyards to bid on building 10 of these vessels, ultimately awarding one build contract to Chantier Naval Forillon of Gaspé, Quebec, and a second one to Hike Metal Products of Wheatley, Ontario.

The two shipyards were asked to review the design, construction and outfitting of the vessels and bring up all problems, omissions or inconsistencies, along with any recommended solutions. For example, some elements were refined to make production more efficient while maintaining the original concept of the design and respecting the CCG's requirements, explains Amine Ali Haider, from the PSPC team. "The shipyards are experts on production, so we took advantage of their insight."

Navigating the production

Each ship is comprised of multiple components that had to be assembled into a functional whole. "The primary pieces are the hull and keel that form the bottom and the superstructure that sits over the top," says Luc Girard, also with PSPC.

Alongside the engine and controls, other components include cables, pumps, climate control systems, medical equipment for rescue efforts and much more. "Gathering all of the items ahead of time was a key step in ensuring everything fit together and the pieces for the ship's structure could be cut correctly the first time," Haider notes.

On the surface, it might seem like the ships are identical, but there are some differences between them. Regional CCG crews had input into the equipment selected based on their unique operational requirements. In addition, equipment changes were driven by the industry evolution. Since the full series of boats was built over a period of 10 years, some parts were discontinued or upgraded along the way. That was a challenging element in completing all the ships. In these self-righting vessels, which return to an upright position if they capsize, any changes had the potential to require recalculations and an engineering review. "The weight on the boat must be strictly controlled," explains Girard.

The self-righting system was put through a rigorous test as soon as the first ships were ready. "The shipyards used cranes to tip the boats over and see if they rolled back up," Girard recounts. "That was a nerve-wracking experience for everyone, but it was a success, and afterwards, we proceeded full speed ahead with the builds."

For PSPC, the construction process involved monitoring timelines and work quality, discussing design updates and necessary contract amendments, and meeting with the shipyards for progress reports and technical briefings. The PSPC team was onsite for the delivery of each ship. "The vessel goes through some final tests and there is a run-through of its operation," says Haider. "We sign the documents that conclude the handover."

Showcasing pride, leadership and longevity

Now that all the boats have been delivered, the project team can celebrate the completion of years of planning, coordination and hard work. "There is so much to be proud of in terms of this project, starting with the amazing partnerships with the CCG and all the stakeholders involved," Haider points out, adding that this collaboration allowed the team to sail relatively smoothly through a complex program of work and bring the vessels to life.

For the CCG, the ships have been a welcome addition to the fleet. "They're very happy with their performance," says Girard, "and they can look forward to years of service by modern vessels backed by 3D models and detailed manuals for repairs. Best of all, we've taken safety to the next level, not just for the mariners they assist, but also for their own crews that risk their lives on the water."

In addition to modernizing the CCG fleet, this project played a part in revitalizing Canada's marine industry, as the work was done domestically, resulting in significant economic benefits. The project also informed other initiatives under the National Shipbuilding Strategy and demonstrated leadership and innovation in the marine sector.

Learn more about the search-and-rescue lifeboats and the project to build them. Both Chantier Naval Forillon and Hike Metal Products also offer videos of the self-righting tests for the boats. For other interesting articles about PSPC, see Our stories.