Davie and Kraken join forces for the production of ships and autonomous systems in Canada

Press Release

May 27, 2026

Ottawa — Davie, a Quebec-based company, and Kraken Technology Group (Kraken), a British company, today announced a strategic collaboration that will enable the production, integration and development of Kraken's advanced autonomous solutions to be established in Canada.

As part of this collaboration, Davie will ensure the production, integration and development of Kraken's advanced unmanned surface vessels, as well as its next generation autonomous maritime systems.

The agreement also provides a framework for collaboration to combine Kraken's unique technologies with the unparalleled transatlantic industrial footprint of Davie and its affiliates, which extends to Canada, Finland and the United States.

This announcement comes as Western governments increasingly prioritize autonomous, AI-supported maritime capabilities to bolster their sovereign industrial capacity and accelerate the modernization of their naval forces.

Philip Burns-O'Brien, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Davie Shipyard, stated: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our evolution as a next-generation maritime industry leader. The future of maritime security will depend on the seamless integration of manned and autonomous vessels capable of operating over long distances in the most contested environments. Kraken brings world-class autonomous vessel technologies, while Davie offers the scale, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and proven expertise to deliver mission-critical vessels on time and on budget.”

James Davies, CEO of Davie, stated: “This announcement is part of our strategy to combine next-generation innovation with robust industrial capability. In a new era of maritime competition, autonomous vessels will be as essential as crewed ships. Governments need trusted partners like Davie and Kraken to deliver the most advanced autonomous technologies quickly and at scale. The National Shipbuilding Strategy has laid a solid foundation; it is now up to Canada and its allies to build on it to restore Western maritime power.”

Lindsey Kettel, President of Davie, stated: “By combining cutting-edge technologies with Canadian industrial expertise, this collaboration perfectly illustrates the application of the Canadian government’s ‘Build, Collaborate, and Buy’ framework. By combining Kraken’s advanced autonomous systems with Davie’s scale, capacity, and shipbuilding expertise, we can position Canada as a global leader in the autonomous marine sector, while reinforcing Quebec’s central role at the heart of the Canadian shipbuilding industry.”

Mal Crease, CEO of Kraken Technology Group, stated: “This partnership with Davie represents a significant opportunity for us to further expand our presence in North America. The ability to accelerate the production and deployment of our modular, scalable, and proven platforms will enable us to meet the needs of our customers in the defense, security, and commercial sectors. Combining innovation and industrial capability is essential for the future of our maritime security, and we look forward to realizing this vision with Davie.”

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About Davie

Located in Quebec, Canada, since 1825, Davie is a world-class designer and builder of specialized and critical vessels, such as icebreakers, ferries, and warships, for government and commercial clients. Davie became a partner in the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy on April 4, 2023. This landmark agreement supports the design and construction of the largest ice-capable vessels ever built in Canada, incorporating the most advanced technologies. Davie is part of Inocea, a global shipbuilding group that operates five major shipyards in Canada, the United States, and Finland. Together, these facilities represent one of the largest independent shipbuilding capabilities in the Western world. To learn more, visit davie.ca, helsinkishipyard.fi, and gulfcopper.com.

About Kraken

With a unique history and DNA in offshore racing, Kraken Technology Group was founded in 2020 to address the growing need for modular, scalable, and affordable maritime defense capabilities. A British company, Kraken has expanded internationally and now produces and exports its proven platforms to NATO countries worldwide. Kraken's current product range includes the K3 SCOUT, K5 KRAKEN, and K7 SABRE unmanned surface vessels, as well as the K4 MANTA unmanned surface and subsurface platform. Kraken's facilities are each capable of producing up to 1,000 units per year to support allied maritime needs. Learn more at https://www.krakentechnology.com/