Icebreaking Anchor Handling Vessel Aiviq
Below is a news release from the Acquisitions Directorate, CG-9. For background see my earlier post, The Icebreaker Aiviq Saga.
Late addition:
‘Aiviq’ at Tampa Ship’s Graving Dock #4 on November 28, 2024. (Source: GCaptain via tabasco44)
Coast Guard awards contract for commercially available polar icebreaker
Nov. 25, 2024 —
The Coast Guard awarded a contract on Nov. 20 to Offshore Service Vessels, LLC, of Cut Off, Louisiana, to acquire a commercially available polar icebreaker to supplement mission readiness and capability in the polar regions. The firm fixed-price contract, with a total value of $125.0 million, includes delivery and reactivation of the M/V Aiviq, a 360-foot U.S.-built polar class 3-equivalent icebreaker. The contract also includes provisions for technical data, spares, necessary modifications, certifications, crew training, and operational readiness activities.
The Coast Guard is procuring a commercially available polar icebreaker to increase operational presence in the Arctic while the service awaits delivery of the polar security cutter (PSC) class. Coast Guard polar icebreakers are highly specialized vessels that possess the endurance, resilience and capability to execute a wide range of maritime safety and security missions.
The contract action is the product of a disciplined effort to identify a domestically produced commercially available polar icebreaker through industry outreach and engagement. This approach was made possible through direction and statutory relief provided in the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 and funding appropriated in fiscal year 2024.
With minimal modifications, the commercially available polar icebreaker will be capable of projecting U.S. sovereignty in the Arctic and conducting select Coast Guard missions. The service will evaluate the vessel’s current condition and capability and identify requirements to attain full operational capability.
The Coast Guard intends to permanently homeport the vessel in Juneau, Alaska, and is planning infrastructure improvements to support future operations. In the interim, the service is evaluating options to temporarily homeport the commercially available polar icebreaker.
Acquisition of a commercially available polar icebreaker does not affect the acquisition of the PSCs, and the vessel will not be included in the PSC program of record. The Coast Guard needs a mix of eight to nine polar icebreakers to meet operational needs in the polar regions. The commercially available polar icebreaker will supplement these operational capabilities and provide much-needed operational presence in the near term as a bridging strategy to address maritime interests in support of national security until the full complement of PSCs is available.
For more information on the PSC class: Polar Security Cutter Program page
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Interesting helicopter platform configuration. Different occupational characteristics probably than those I experienced on GLACIER’s AWS and WESTWIND’s AES; those were long, long ago.
This does make me wonder why we just don’t have ECO working to build more of these out as the medium icebreaker. Obviously modified, but still seems like the low risk, money wisely spent option.
There’s a few reasons for that, but the most important is that deep down Aiviq is a commercial anchor-handling tug and icebreaking was not intended to be its primary mission. Its propeller nozzles are susceptible to ice clogging and the geared mechanical drivetrain has limited resilience against propeller-ice interaction.
Aiviq is a good low-cost stopgap and the USCG will certainly benefit from adding this vessel to their fleet given the current number and state of their other large icebreakers. However, I am fairly sure it is not something the USCG would choose if they had a choice.
gCaptain published another article on Aiviq and you can just catch a glimpse of Coast Guard Red under the tarpaulins.
https://gcaptain.com/coast-guard-inks-deal-to-acquire-aiviq-as-vessel-arrives-in-tampa-dry-dock-to-begin-conversion/
Thanks, I added the photo to the post as a late addition.
Is the USCG buying or leasing the Aiviq?
https://www.stripes.com/branches/coast_guard/2024-11-21/coast-guard-icebreaker-arctic-russia-china-15927284.html
Purchase. Also doing a lot of modifications.
Found some photographs in Reddit:
There’s something very interesting written on the transom.
Also, the pennant number appears to be 21.
Looks like gCaptain picked up the story as well with some additional photos:
https://gcaptain.com/u-s-coast-guard-icebreaker-aiviq-to-be-renamed-storis-photos-reveal/
Great name choice!
The question becomes: how much life / usefulness is left in her, and where does this put her decommissioning/ replacement? My guess is she will serve the CG until late, late into the Medium Icebreaker acquisition.
I think at least 20 years, but then that could be late, late into the Medium Icebreaker acquisition the way things have been going.