Canada’s Davie Plans $1B Acquisition of Texas Shipyards for US Icebreaker Production

Canadian shipbuilder Chantier Davie Canada Inc. plans to acquire the shipbuilding assets of Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corp., located in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas, as part of a strategic expansion into the U.S. market focused on icebreaker and specialized vessel production. The acquisition, expected to close this summer pending financial, legal, regulatory, and land lease approvals, involves a planned investment of over $1 billion to upgrade Gulf Copper's facilities. This move aligns with U.S. national security priorities, including the U.S. Maritime Action Plan, the Ships for America Act, and the U.S. Coast Guard's Arctic Security Cutter program, aiming to address the strategic gap in American icebreaking capabilities. Davie, already a major player in icebreaker construction with operations in Québec and Helsinki, aims to make Texas a world-class hub for American shipbuilding and to foster collaboration among ICE Pact nations — the U.S., Canada, and Finland — for domestic icebreaker production. The company's leadership emphasizes the potential for revitalizing complex shipbuilding in Texas, creating opportunities for employees and communities while delivering ships on time and budget. This acquisition marks a significant step in Davie's plan to rebuild North American shipbuilding capacity and support Arctic security.