Offshore oceanographic science vessel

The offshore oceanographic science vessel (OOSV) will:

become the largest dedicated science vessel in the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) fleet
provide increased capability and capacity to support the marine science missions of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the East Coast
conduct work to help improve Canada’s understanding of the Atlantic Ocean, which is home to some of the most productive marine environments in the world

3D rendering of the offshore oceanographic science vessel

Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Naalak Nappaaluk

Project at a glance

Shipyard: Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. (VSY) in Vancouver, British Columbia
Project status: Delivered
Number of vessels: 1
Project budget: $1.47 billion (taxes included)
Year delivered: 2025

Current status

On November 13, 2025, the CCG accepted delivery of the OOSV at its base in Victoria, British Columbia. With sea trials successfully completed, the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk will make the transit from the West Coast to its home port at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, through the Panama Canal.

Progress of the project

In August 2024, the OOSV was launched, which marked the completion of the construction of the ship’s underwater hull and the first time it was lowered into the water
- pier-side work and harbour and sea trials were performed
- the Government of Canada announced the name of the OOSV, the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, which was chosen in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The ship’s consolidation was commemorated on November 15, 2023
- this marked the final stage of building the ship’s individual blocks
- the blocks were then joined together to form the ship’s complete structure
The keel-laying ceremony for the OOSV was held on November 25, 2022
On February 18, 2021, the Government of Canada announced a contract of $453.8 million (taxes included) to VSY for the construction of 1 OOSV for the CCG
In early 2019, the Government of Canada made a decision to resequence construction of the joint support ship (JSS) and the OOSV at VSY
- this measure aims to build on the momentum underway with the construction of the JSS early block
- under the revised sequencing, VSY will first complete construction on JSS 1, followed by the construction of the OOSV, and then JSS 2
In November 2015, Canada awarded the initial construction engineering contract to VSY to begin the work required before the start of construction