The Canadian Coast Guard said Oct. 15 that CCGS Des Groseilliers and CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent completed maritime security patrols in Arctic waters south of Victoria Island and around Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. It describes them as the Coast Guard’s first such patrols under its expanded surveillance role.

Des Groseilliers also took part in Exercise ARCTIC GHOST, a Coast Guard-led operation near Cambridge Bay. The Coast Guard previously said the Sept. 15–19 exercise included patrols, simulated searches for suspicious vessels and a simulated interception of an illegal vessel. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

The patrols mark a new security task being added to Coast Guard operations in Nunavut waters. The federal government says the work will be integrated with its existing services, including icebreaking, search and rescue, environmental response, ocean science support and maintaining navigation routes.

The release does not identify any security incident, enforcement action, vessel interception or change to local marine services around Cambridge Bay. It also does not publish patrol dates, routes, local-partner names or a schedule for future patrols.

The chartered Polar Class 3 icebreaker is contracted through Nov. 30, the end date listed for the 2026 Arctic operating season. The Coast Guard says it will continue integrating security activities into its regular functions, but has not published a Nunavut patrol schedule or further operational details.

The federal release says the Coast Guard’s additional intelligence-collection and sharing responsibilities stem from the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration Systems and Borders Act, which it says received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026.

• Location: waters south of Victoria Island and around Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.
• Ships named: CCGS Des Groseilliers and CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent.
• Exercise ARCTIC GHOST activity near Cambridge Bay occurred Sept. 15–19, according to a separate Coast Guard release.
• Icebreaker charter recipient: Qikiqtaaluk Horizon Arctic Services Limited Partnership.
• Contract number: CW2462237.
• Contract value: $24,999,999.99.
• Award date: July 30, 2026.
• Contract expiry: Nov. 30, 2026.
• Procurement record: directed contract following an advance contract award notice. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗