Irving Shipbuilding Inc. has been awarded an initial contract valued at C$8B to construct three River-Class destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy
On March 8, 2025, it was announced by the Minister of National Defense, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Minister of Veterans Affairs that Irving Shipbuilding Inc. would be awarded C$8 billion to construct three River-Class destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy. The new destroyers are included in the Government of Canada’s defense policy, "Our North, Strong and Free" (ONSAF). This policy is designed to equip the Royal Canadian Navy with state-of-the-art ships to meet Canada’s defense and security obligations. The contract, valued at C$8 billion (including taxes) for the initial six years of construction, encompasses not only the building and delivery of the first three River-Class destroyers but also covers operational and service expenses. Additionally, it includes the development and provision of essential training, spare parts, and maintenance. These destroyers will be equipped to undertake a wide range of missions in collaboration with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Five Eyes nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), coalition partners, and various Canadian government departments and agencies.
Irving Shipbuilding Inc. based in Halifax, Nova Scotia is a subsidiary of J.D. Irving Limited that specializes in building ships and providing ongoing support services for them.
McCarthy Tétrault advised Irving Shipbuilding Inc. with a team led by David Lever that included, Barry Sookman, Tom Sutton, Robert Glasgow, Daphne Rodzinyak, Sarah Chen, and Kerri Lui.
