The contract was awarded to KONGSBERG Vanguard LP, comprising Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG), Salt Ship Design, and Adaptive Marine Solutions Inc. (AMS) in mid-March.
This announcement marks the official start of a collaborative effort to strengthen Canada’s maritime capabilities under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The MSMM project will support the Canadian Coast Guard in key missions, including marine science, hydrographic surveys, search and rescue, and icebreaking.
Together, the partners bring a powerful combination of Norwegian and Canadian expertise, uniting advanced defense technology, world-class naval architecture, and deep local marine knowledge from both allied nations.
Drawing on shared experience, complementary strengths, and commitment to excellence, KONGSBERG will work with its Canadian partners to develop and deliver the best possible vessel design in support of Canada’s requirements and the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
KONGSBERG in Canada said: “KONGSBERG in Canada is proud to contribute to the growth of Canada’s our country’s industrial base by investing locally, strengthening allied supply chains, and helping create export opportunities for Canadian businesses. This approach is aligned with Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy and its Build-Partner-Buy framework, which prioritizes domestic production where feasible and partnerships with trusted allies where needed.”
AMS said: “We are proud to support the Canadian Coast Guard through the MSMM contract design, an important step in strengthening Canada’s marine capability. This work sustains skilled jobs, builds domestic expertise, and reinforces a resilient shipbuilding ecosystem. We are also grateful for our partners: KONGSBERG for their deep maritime experience and SALT for their outstanding design capabilities, both of which are instrumental to delivering a high-quality solution for Canada.
“By advancing this program, we are helping sustain high value jobs, strengthen domestic expertise, and contribute to a resilient, sovereign shipbuilding and sustainment ecosystem. This work ensures that critical knowledge and capability remain here in Canada, positioning our industry to meet future demands with confidence plus talk about presence in Ottawa and Newfoundland.”
SALT SHIP DESIGN said: “It is an honor for us in SALT to take part in such a prestigious project. Together with our partners KONGSBERG and AMS, we intend to deliver a harmonized contract design suitable for quoting by the bidding shipyards. With our slogan being “passion for ship design”, we will do our part for the Mid-Shore Multi-Mission vessels to become the efficient workhorses as intended for the Canadian Coast Guard.”
Chargé d’affaires Jon-Åge Øyslebø, at the Norwegian embassy in Canada, said: “It’s a pleasure to see another example of how Norway and Canada are strengthening relations in so many areas. The two countries share interests and values, we are close allies as founding members of NATO, we have an extensive cooperation in the Arctic, and our armed forces and our Coast Guards work closely together. Norway’s advanced maritime sector is well positioned to contribute expertise in Arctic operations, vessel design and systems, and maritime technology.”
