The Coast Guard Cutter Healy breaks ice around the Russian-flagged tanker Renda 250 miles south of Nome Jan. 6, 2012. The Healy is the Coast Guard’s only currently operating polar icebreaker. The vessels are transiting through ice up to five-feet thick in this area. The 370-foot tanker Renda will have to go through more than 300 miles of sea ice to get to Nome, a city of about 3,500 people on the western Alaska coastline that did not get its last pre-winter fuel delivery because of a massive storm. If the delivery of diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline is not made, the city likely will run short of fuel supplies before another barge delivery can be made in spring. (AP Photo/US Coast Guard – Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis) NY112
The US Naval Institute has a report on the impact of the government shutdown on the Coast Guard and other government agencies, with a close look at what it probably means for the Polar Security Cutter (icebreaker) program.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
The President recently expressed his support for the new Polar Security Cutter (PSC) Icebreaker program, comparing it to “the Wall.” The support is certainly welcomed, but the program is tied to the wall in other ways. Since both are included in the Depart of Homeland Security budget, the fight over the wall may delay the construction of the PSC. It is entirely possible that we may not see anything more than a continuing resolution this year, which might preclude award of contract.
https://www.military.com/dodbuzz/2018/12/26/trump-compares-coast-guards-new-icebreaker-border-wall-effort.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dodbuzz+%28DoD+Buzz%29