Canadian Coast Guard welcomes first additional large vessel on the Great Lakes in over thirty years

Today, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), along with Mr. Bruce Fanjoy, Member of Parliament for Carleton, on behalf of the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, officially welcomed Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Judy LaMarsh into its fleet, the first time an additional large vessel has joined the Great Lakes region in over thirty years.

September 10, 2026 – Prescott, ON – Department of National Defence / Canadian Coast Guard

Today, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), along with Mr. Bruce Fanjoy, Member of Parliament for Carleton, on behalf of the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, officially welcomed Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Judy LaMarsh into its fleet, the first time an additional large vessel has joined the Great Lakes region in over thirty years. Based in Prescott, Ontario, the vessel will carry out icebreaking and buoy tending operations across the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River in Ontario and Quebec.

The CCG’s Great Lakes coverage extends along the Canada-United States border, from the St. Lawrence River to the western point of Lake Superior – approximately 2,400 kilometers. With most of Canada’s population living in the Great Lakes basin, it is a top priority for the CCG to keep these waters safe and open for all who use them.

The CCGS Judy LaMarsh was purchased in 2021 and underwent conversion and refit work at Newdock St. John’s Dockyard Limited, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, from 2023 to 2025, prior to joining the CCG fleet. This work included refurbishment of the vessel’s propulsion, communication, and navigation systems, as well as upgrades to workspaces and accommodation facilities, and the installation of a new buoy crane.