The Canadian Coast Guard has introduced the CCGS Judy LaMarsh to its fleet. This is the first large vessel added to its Great Lakes operations in over 30 years.
Located in Prescott, Ontario, the ship will aid in icebreaking and maintaining buoys across the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River in Ontario and Quebec.
The Coast Guard stated that this new capacity will enhance operations throughout the year in one of Canada’s busiest maritime areas. Keeping shipping lanes clear during winter is essential for commercial traffic and communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.
“The Great Lakes are crucial for Canada’s economy, our communities, and our security,” said National Defence Minister David McGuinty. “With the CCGS Judy LaMarsh, we are boosting the Canadian Coast Guard’s capability to keep these waters safe and accessible all year round.”
The vessel was constructed in Romania in 2010 and originally operated on the Caspian Sea under the name Mangystau-2, a commercial firefighting tug registered in Turkmenistan.
Canada purchased the light icebreaker in 2021 from Atlantic Towing Limited, based in New Brunswick, as part of a larger initiative to enhance icebreaking capacity while older Coast Guard vessels are being maintained or updated.
From 2023 to 2025, the ship underwent significant conversion and refurbishment at Newdock St. John’s Dockyard Limited in Newfoundland and Labrador. The upgrades included improvements to propulsion, communication, and navigation systems, as well as enhancements to crew accommodations and workspaces, and the addition of a new buoy crane.
The Judy LaMarsh began service in December 2025 and was officially integrated into the Great Lakes fleet during a ceremony in Prescott on September 10.
This vessel is the third large Coast Guard ship assigned to the Great Lakes, joining the CCGS Samuel Risley and CCGS Griffon, which also assist with winter icebreaking.
Canadian Coast Guard Commissioner Kevin Brosseau called the ship a “capable and multipurpose vessel” that will enhance operations in one of the country’s key maritime regions.
The Coast Guard’s Great Lakes area stretches approximately 2,400 kilometers along the Canada-U.S. border, from the St. Lawrence River to western Lake Superior.
The Judy LaMarsh is the fourth interim icebreaker acquired by the Canadian Coast Guard, joining the CCGS Jean Goodwill, CCGS Vincent Massey, and CCGS Captain Molly Kool.
The ship is named after Judy LaMarsh, one of the first women to serve as a Canadian federal Cabinet minister. She contributed to the development of Medicare and the Canada Pension Plan and helped found the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada during her time as secretary of state from 1965 to 1968.
This acquisition was made under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, which focuses on renewing federal maritime fleets while also supporting domestic shipbuilding and creating jobs in the marine sector.