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The Canadian government intends to enter into a deal with Davie Shipyards of Quebec to provide three medium icebreakers, Public Services and Procurement Canada announced Friday.

The vessels will be acquired for the Canadian Coast Guard. The ships would provide interim capability for the coast guard, while replacement vessels are built later under the government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. The icebreakers are seen as essential to ensuring that Canadian ports remain open during winter months, according to the federal government.

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The deal will see the purchasing a class of three existing Anchor Handling Tug Supply icebreakers. Those vessels will be used by the coast guard while its other ships undergo maintenance, refit and vessel life extension.

The ships will be used for icebreaking duties during the winter and sent to the Arctic as needed during the summer. The first ship will be put to immediate use for icebreaking during the upcoming 2018-2019 season, Public Services and Procurement Canada stated in their news release.