Icebreaking Anchor Handling Vessel Aiviq

It appears the Coast Guard is ready to purchase the privately owned icebreaking Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessel Aiviq.

We first heard about the Aiviq back in 2012.

A New Icebreaker This Year, The US will finish a new icebreaker this year, unfortunately it is not for the Coast Guard.

Aiviq was not the only icebreaker being built in the US. From 2015, Two More New Medium Icebreaker–Not for the Coast Guard

In October 2015 we learned that Shell had abandoned its ambitions to drill in the Arctic and that Aiviq was up for sale and that construction had been suspended on a second icebreaking AHTS, meaning it might also be available. I suggested, “This might be an opportunity for the Coast Guard to obtain one or two reasonably capable medium icebreaker in the near term on favorable terms.” Icebreaker Bargain?

In 2016 there was already consideration of buying or leasing the Aiviq for Coast Guard service. It was still being considered in 2017 (and here).

The ship was evaluated by the Coast Guard and the conclusion was rather lukewarm. There was concern about the use of direct drive diesels as opposed to diesel electric drive. (Sorry I could not find when this was reported.)

Nevertheless, we seem to have accepted that we need more icebreakers. We are willing to take whatever is immediately available, but only if it was made in the US.

In May 2022, Maritime Executive reports,

The U.S. Coast Guard released a formal request for information seeking to identify U.S.-built commercial icebreakers that might be available for purchase. With promises of funding from the Biden Administration and the U.S. Congress, the Department of Homeland Security published on May 3, the request for information as the first step in the possible purchase of a vessel to bridge the gap until the newly built polar security cutters, which are behind schedule, are commissioned and available for service late this decade.

As I recall the purchase was included in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 budgets. I’m not sure why it hasn’t happened already, but Aiviq has been supporting the Australian Antarctic program.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Coast Guard, in a program that began in 2018, purchased three similar but smaller icebreaking anchor handling tug supply vessels and converted them to icebreakers, CCGS Vincent Massey,CCGS Captain Molly Kool, and CCGS Jean Goodwill. These ships are 82 meters (276 ft) in length, 18 m (59 ft) of beam, and 18,300 HP.