“Request for Information – Arctic Security Cutter (ASC): Icebreaking Capable Vessels or Vessel Designs that are Ready for Construction / This Could be the Great Lakes Icebreaker Too

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Canadian CG MPV. Credit Aker Arctic.

The Coast Guard issued a Request for Information Apr 11, 2025 01:14 pm EDT with a response date of Apr 25, 2025 05:00 pm EDT.

Description

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is conducting market research to assess the current capabilities of the U.S. and international maritime industrial base to support Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) acquisition efforts. Specifically, the USCG is seeking to increase their understanding of existing icebreaking capable vessels or vessel designs that are ready for construction or already in production.

The USCG is also interested in proven execution and build strategies and the ability of global shipyards to support the construction and subsequent launch of an icebreaking-capable vessel within 36-months of a contract award.

Responses are due no later than 5:00 PM ET on April 25, 2025.

Interested parties shall refer to the attached RFI package for complete submission requirements, technical expectations, and response format guidance. All responses shall be submitted electronically per the instructions provided.

This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), nor does it guarantee future contract award. Responses will be used solely for market research and planning purposes.

The RFI includes the following preliminary specifications:

What we see here is not particularly demanding. Healy is rated for breaking 4.5 ft at 3 knots. Reportedly Mackinaw can continuously proceed through fresh water ice up to 32 inches (81 cm) thick at 3 knots or 14 inches (36 cm) at 10 knots. It seems likely the ship may not need the 20,000 HP that has defined the lower limit for what the Coast Guard calls a Medium Icebreaker. The similar sized approximately 8,500 ton USCGC Glacier was capable of continuously breaking 4 ft of ice at 3 knots with 21,000 HP.

It appears that the Norwegian Svalbard and the Canadian Harry DeWolf (ice class 5) and Multi-Purpose Vessels (ice class 4) could qualify.

The maximum dimensions proposed would allow the icebreaker to transit the Saint Lawrence Seaway, meaning these could also serve as Great Lakes Icebreakers.

When the original USCGC Mackinaw was build, the Wind class icebreaker design was altered, making the ship broader with a shallower draft, only 19.5 feet vs 25’9″ for the Wind class. The maximum draft to pass the Saint Lawrence Seaway is 26.5 feet (8.08 meters). Since the draft specified for the Arctic Security Cutter is only 23 feet, I presume there is at least one port they plan to use where that is a controlling depth.

4 thoughts on ““Request for Information – Arctic Security Cutter (ASC): Icebreaking Capable Vessels or Vessel Designs that are Ready for Construction / This Could be the Great Lakes Icebreaker Too”

  1. Considering the extremely poor state of US shipbuilding at the moment (i.e., FFG, PSC, OPC, etc.), I’m glad that the program is being opened to international shipyards. Quite likely Canada might scoop these up. Makes sense to me, they’re the ones with the know-how.

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    • I seriously doubt Canada'[s shipyards will be scooping up any US government production contracts. Only three shipyards are certified for government builds in excess of 1000 tons, Irving, Seaspan and Davie.

      And their order books (and those of the under 1,000 ton shipyards) are full up with Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy projects.

      And they haven’t yet included the Canadian Multi-Mission Corvette (to replace the 12 ship Kingston-class coastal defense vessels) into the NSS, and it’s supposed to exceed 1000 tons too.

      Reply ↓

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