While looking into Fincantieri’s US operation regarding the OPC, I ran across reference to an Ice Capable ship being built for the National Science Foundation. The ship is the Sikuliaq, pronounced [see-KOO-lee-auk]. It “will be a 260-foot oceanographic research ship capable of bringing scientists to the ice-choked waters of Alaska and the polar regions. When complete, the vessel will be one of the most advanced university research vessels in the world and will be able to break ice up to 2.5 feet thick. Currently under construction at Marinette Marine Corporation, a shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin, the Sikuliaq will be ready for unrestricted science operations in 2014 and will be home ported in Alaska, at UAF’s Seward Marine Center in Seward.” More info here.
It’s only a light icebreaker and it isn’t very fast, but with a flight deck and a little more power, mightn’t this be the basis for an affordable patrol ship that can give us a seasonal presence in the Arctic? The price is reportedly $200M (revised from original post).
| Length, Overall | LOA | 260 feet |
| Length, Design Waterline | LWL | 237 feet 0 inches |
| Beam, Max across reamer | Bmax | 52 feet |
| Beam, Max across hull amidship | Bmidship | 48 feet |
| Depth, Keel to Main Deck | D | 28 feet |
| Draft, Design Waterline | TDWL | 18 feet 9 inches |
| Freeboard, Design Waterline | FDWL | 8 feet 9 inches |
| Displacement at Design Waterline | 3,665 long tons | |
| Propulsion Power | P | 5,750 BHP |
Performance
| Endurance | 45 days | |
| Endurance, Hotel Only | 60 days | |
| Speed, Calm Open Water | Vcalm | 14.2 knots |
| Speed, 4 M Sea (13.1 ft) | Vss 5 | 12.3 knots |
| Level Ice at 2 knots | Ice thickness | 3 feet |
Capacities and Working Areas
| Science Berths | 26 |
| Crew Berths | 20 |
| Science deadweight | 100 long tons |
| Science/Storage Vans, 8 feet x 20 feet | 2 – 4 vans |
| Science storage | 8,000 cubic feet |
| Consumables: | |
| Diesel Fuel, at 95% | 170,000 gallons |
| Fresh Water, at 100% | 13,150 gallons |
| Water making capacity | 6,000 gallons/day |
| Provisions | 60 days |
| Holding capacity | 24 hours |
| Science Labs | 2250 square feet |
| Deck Working Area | 4360 square feet |
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Wouldn’t the US Coast Guard consider a modified version of that the Royal New Zealand Navy is using. Such as the Protector class offshore patrol vessel. Here is links to the Ship
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protector_class_offshore_patrol_vessel
The maker of the Protector class offshore patrol vessel.
http://www.stxmarine.net/ship_patrol.html
Nick apparently STXMarine got their calculations wrong. From what I heard, the Protector class is overweight so its icebelt is in the wrong place.
There are lots of designs if you look outside the US, but the unique thing about the Sikuliaq is that it is already being built in the US. The only other designs built in the USA that are close, other than the Mackinaw, which was also made by Marinette, are the two ships we talked about here: http://cgblog.org/2010/11/26/icebreakers-photos/ which were built in Louisiana. Those two were built in the 90s.
So Chuck, do u think the US Coast Guard would by the blueprint design and heavily modify it to US Coast Guard Standards and US Navy Standards.
I really don’t think the Coast Guard is thinking seriously about it right now. The “Protector” class looks an lot like a Cutter we might consider, the speed is not bad, but its ice protection is minimal.
Would the Coast Guard consider the Protector class offshore patrol vessel design to replace the 210 and 270s. It looks like a good contender to replace the 210s and 270s.
What about the Knud Rasmussen class patrol vessel, Would this be something the US Coast Guard might consider as their Arctic Patrol Cutter
Knud Rasmussen class patrol vessel
Sorry about that, here’s the link
Knud Rasmussen class patrol vessel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knud_Rasmussen_class_patrol_vessel
The OPC is the design planned to replace the 210s and 270s. The Protector looks a bit slower and smaller than the ship they have been talking about, but its always possible our ambitions may be down sized.
The thing I see as an immediate problem with the Knud Rasmussen is the limited range. 3,000 nmi. is never going to cut it. Again it is relatively small and slow. Speed is probably going to be less important for the Arctic Patrol Vessel, but it will definitely need lots of endurance.
perhaps you mean the ice stregthened research ships built for the National Science Foundation at one of the Chouest shipyards? They are building a newer one now?
Lee,
I was referring to the 94 meter (310 foot) icebreaker R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer, built in 1992, and the 76 meter (251 foot) ice-strengthened (Ice class ABS A1) RV Laurence M. Goul, built in 1997. Both were built by Edison Chouest Offshore Inc., Galliano, Louisiana.
Was that a question, or are you saying Chouest is in the process of building another? I haven’t heard of another.
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