Category Archives: icebreaker

“A polar plunge: The Coast Guard bets on the burgeoning Arctic” –MyCG

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Polar Star, Storis, and Healy. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB-20) arrives at Pier 46 on Coast Guard Base Seattle, Oct. 26, 2025. The crew of the Healy transited over 20,000 miles, supporting Operation Arctic West Summer and Operation Frontier Sentinel, protecting U.S. sovereign rights and territory, and promoting national security in the Arctic. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lieutenant Christopher Butters)

Below is a post from MyCG.

It is worth noting that our ally, Canada, is also building a new generation of icebreakers in cooperation with the Finns. In fact the Arctic Security Cutters will be built to two designs shared with Canada.

Canadian Coast Guard Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI). Source: Seaspan
Note: The MPI image does not show the right propulsors; it will use Steerprop’s contra-rotating propulsors (CRP). Additionally according to Seaspan, the design could easily be upgraded to PC3. Confirmation from Seaspan and Aker Arctic.

Jan. 6, 2026

A polar plunge: The Coast Guard bets on the burgeoning Arctic

By Katie Duckett, The Circuit writer

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in The Circuit C5ISC blog. (CAC required)

After decades of watching its polar fleet degrade toward obsolescence, the Coast Guard is now poised for a historic transformation in the world’s coldest waters. The spending bill signed on July 4, 2025 has delivered nearly $9 billion for icebreaker construction to the Coast Guard, the single largest polar investment in service history, setting the stage for what officials are calling a new era of American presence in the Arctic and Antarctic.

The timing couldn’t be more fitting. For years America’s polar ambitions have rested largely on the shoulders of USCGC POLAR STAR (WAGB-10), an icebreaker commissioned in 1976. Now 49 years old and nearly two decades past her designed service life, she remains the only American ship capable of punching through the thick ice surrounding McMurdo Station in Antarctica, a mission she has performed faithfully for 28 consecutive years during Operation Deep Freeze.

Alongside POLAR STAR, USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20) has spent a quarter century conducting Arctic research and patrol, identifying underwater volcanoes and mapping the seafloor while monitoring the increasing presence of Russian and Chinese vessels in polar waters. But electrical fires and mechanical strain have tested this workhorse; in December 2024, USCGC STORIS (WMEC-38) became the first polar icebreaker added to the fleet in 25 years, offering immediate relief. Commissioned in Juneau last August, she completed a 112-day inaugural Arctic patrol that fall, shadowing five Chinese research vessels operating in American waters. The purchase served as a bridge strategy, buying time until heavier reinforcements would arrive.

Announced this May, the Coast Guard’s Force Design 2028 initiative has designated polar capability a cornerstone of service transformation. FD28 explicitly calls for delivering “icebreakers needed to provide assured U.S. access and presence to the polar regions” while streamlining acquisitions to accelerate timelines that have historically lagged.

The Coast Guard’s vision for polar operations is now bankrolled at historic scale. This year’s spending bill allocates $4.3 billion for three Polar Security Cutters, massive 460-foot heavy icebreakers capable of smashing through ice 21 feet thick. The first of these, USCGC POLAR SENTINEL (WMSP-21), is expected to enter service around 2030. Another $3.5 billion will fund the Arctic Security Cutter program, which received a dramatic boost in October 2025 when the President signed an agreement with Finland to deliver 11 medium icebreakers, with the first five set to arrive by 2028. When combined with the additional light icebreaker funding included in the bill, the legislation enables construction of 17 new vessels in total, a number that would have seemed unthinkable just five years ago.

The urgency of Arctic operations extends beyond aging hulls. Russia currently operates more than 40 icebreakers, continuing to militarize its Arctic coastline. China, despite possessing no Arctic territory, has declared itself a “near-Arctic state” and deployed its own coast guard vessels alongside Russian patrols near Alaska. And a changing climate is unlocking shipping lanes and resources that will demand American presence and enforcement.

After decades of deferred maintenance and delayed procurement, the Coast Guard’s polar plans are finally scaled to the challenge. This frozen frontier, once patrolled by a single aging ship, will soon host a fleet befitting American strategic interests at both poles.

Contract for “Polar Security Cutter land based test facility and production integration facility long lead time material”

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DOD “Contracts For Dec. 18, 2025” included this for the Polar Security Cutter program.

Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding (BMS), Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $33,077,880 cost reimbursable contract modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-19-C-2210) for Polar Security Cutter land based test facility and production integration facility long lead time material. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed by September 2027. Fiscal year 2025 procurement, construction, and improvement (Coast Guard) funds in the amount of $16,505,862 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Thanks to Paul for bringing this to my attention.

“Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star Returns to Seattle after 308 days” –USCG News

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The rudder of the USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) is being removed while in a Vallejo, Calif., dry dock, April 1, 2025. The maintenance work completed over the past five years recapitalized integral systems, including propulsion, communication, and machinery control systems. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Nestor Molina)

Below is a Coast Guard News Release.

The Coast Guard did a Service Life Extension Program on a 49 year old ship because its replacement is still not ready. Let that sink in for a while.

In addition to the work listed in the release, they removed the centerline shaft for servicing and inspection, exchanged all three propellers, and renewed both forward and aft main deck surfaces.

The ship has not seen its homeport for ten months and the intention is to do the same sort of five year phased SLEP on USCGC Healy, meaning she will have similar long periods away from homeport. At least she is at an age where SLEP is appropriate.

Ships should be home-ported in places they can be worked on.

50 year old ships should be the exception not the rule.

Sept. 25, 2025

Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star Returns to Seattle after 308 days

SEATTLE — After 308 days away from its Seattle home port, the 49-year-old U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew returned home Tuesday. 

Upon completing Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) 2025, Polar Star returned directly to Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, Calif., to complete the final year of a five-year Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).

Polar Star’s SLEP completion comes at a time when the Polar Regions are becoming more consequential, and the demand for U.S. Coast Guard presence, leadership, and vigilance continues to grow.

The maintenance work completed over the past five years recapitalized integral systems, including propulsion, communication, and machinery control systems. These efforts are designed to extend the cutter’s service life as the Coast Guard begins construction of its first Polar Security Cutter. Until PSCs becomes operational, Polar Star will remain the only U.S. icebreaker capable of completing the annual breakout of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica in support of the U.S. Antarctic program (USAP).

“Much has been asked of this ship over the past five decades,” said Capt. Jeff Rasnake, Polar Star’s commanding officer. “The completion of this extensive five-year maintenance and recapitalization project is a major milestone in enabling Polar Star’s operations into the future.”

Polar Star’s SLEP has been completed in five phases to maintain its operational capability to complete annual polar deployments. Phase Five, the last phase in its SLEP, began March 30, 2024, focusing on these projects:

  • Gyro repeater recapitalization to ensure that these critical pieces of navigation equipment are updated to modern standards, enabling safe navigation of the cutter.
  • Ancillary pumps and motors recapitalization through the replacement of critical main propulsion and auxiliary systems with modern supportable units.

  • Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems refurbishments; multiple zones were refurbished with ventilation trunks, fans, and heaters to improve air circulation and maintain a comfortable living environment for the ship’s crew during extended deployments.

The completion of Polar Star’s five-year SLEP underscores the importance of the annual ODF mission, the U.S. military support mission for the USAP, which facilitates the transport of personnel, equipment and supplies required to maintain the U.S.’s strategic presence in Antarctica. Having participated in a majority of these missions since they began in the 1950s, the U.S. Coast Guard will continue to support the U.S.’s continued presence on the Antarctic continent as part of the Joint Task Force – Support Forces Antarctica.

Work completed in Phase Five took 175 days and represented an additional $12.7 million investment in the U.S. Polar capability. While at Mare Island, Polar Star received support from both Coast Guard Base Seattle and Base Charleston’s Naval Engineering Departments to perform a center section overhaul on one of Polar Star’s nine main diesel engines. In parallel with this work, members from the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore completed vital work on the ship’s sanitary systems.

Additional major work completed includes removing the centerline shaft for servicing and inspection, exchanging all three propellers, and renewing both forward and aft main deck surfaces.

“This is a tremendous ship, and it is in better shape today than it was ten years ago,” said Rasnake. “That’s a testament to the unrelenting efforts of the crew, the enduring support of our mission partners, and the renewed enthusiasm and investment in our nation’s polar icebreaking capabilities.”

Commissioned in 1976, Polar Star is 399 feet, weighing 13,500 tons with a 34-foot draft. Despite reaching nearly 50 years of age, Polar Star remains the world’s most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker with the ability to produce up to 75,000 shaft horsepower.

“Building a ‘Heavy’ Icebreaker in Helsinki” –Sixty Degrees North

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Sixty Degrees North intends to follow the construction of Canada’s heavy icebreaker in Finland,

“I intend to closely follow and document construction of the Polar Class 2 ‘heavy’ Polar Icebreaker at Helsinki Shipyard in my continuing effort to correct the false belief that Finnish companies cannot build the types of icebreakers needed by the U.S. Coast Guard…

“You will also see me reporting on Rauma Marine Construction’s (RMC) progress building the Finnish Navy Corvettes...At the moment, they have three (of a planned four) Corvettes in simultaneous production.”

The corvette is also interesting combining significant anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine capability with a hull designed to operate in ice, all in a hull 15% smaller than that of an OPC. I look forward to hearing more about it.

The first multi-purpose corvette built for the Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 project was launched at Rauma shipyard on Wednesday 21 May 2025.

“Davie Unveils $1B ‘American Icebreaker Factory’ in Texas to Build Arctic Security Cutters” –gCaptain

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A rendering of Davie Defense’s “American Icebreaker Factory,” a planned $1 billion transformation of the historic Gulf Copper shipyard in Galveston, Texas. Image courtesy Davie

gCaptain reports,

Davie Defense Inc., the newest entrant to the American shipbuilding sector, has revealed detailed plans for a $1 billion overhaul of the historic Gulf Copper shipyard in Galveston, Texas, aiming to create the “American Icebreaker Factory”—a purpose-built facility for constructing U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutters.

The project plans, announced Wednesday, marks what the company describes as the largest single increase in U.S. shipbuilding capacity in decades.

Note, this is intended to build the medium “Arctic Security Cutter.”

“Helsinki Shipyard Begins Construction of Canadian Polar Icebreaker” –60 Degrees North

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Canada’s Polar Max. I had the opportunity to attend the steel-cutting ceremony. Photo: Peter Rybski

60 Degrees North reports,

From an August 20th Davie press release:

In a historic milestone for the Canadian shipbuilding industry, Davie today officially began construction of the Polar Max icebreaker, a vessel that, once delivered by 2030, will redefine Canada’s Arctic capabilities.

Uniquely, Polar Max will be constructed through an innovative industrial collaboration between Canadian-controlled facilities in Helsinki, Finland and Lévis, Canada. Construction on the Polar Max hull will begin at Davie’s Helsinki Shipyard, which has built 100% of the complex medium to heavy icebreakers delivered from Finland over the past 25 years.

“The ICE Pact: One Year Later” –Sixty Degrees North

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Canadian Coast Guard Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI). Source: Seaspan
Note: The MPI image does not show the right propulsors; it will use Steerprop’s contra-rotating propulsors (CRP). Additionally according to Seaspan, the design could easily be upgraded to PC3. Confirmation from Seaspan and Aker Arctic. 

To get a realistic view of the potential of the ICE Pact, I recommend a review of the Sixty Degrees North’s review of the state of the agreement after the first year–useful, but perhaps less than we might have hoped.

“Coast Guard announces agreement to construct new polar security cutter shipyard facilities” –CG-9

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I am trying to catch up on things, but while this is an August 4 release from the Acquisitions Directorate, I think it is an important step in integrating the PSC’s machinery and providing training.

Coast Guard announces agreement to construct new polar security cutter shipyard facilities

Aug. 4, 2025 —As part of continuing efforts to foster growth within the domestic shipbuilding industry and maintain momentum for acquisition priorities, the Coast Guard on July 23 formalized an agreement with Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding (BMS) to construct a production integration facility and land-based test facility at the shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in support of the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) Program.

This action represents a significant step in the Coast Guard’s continuing investment in the domestic shipbuilding sector and collaboration with industry partners to deliver critical assets to the nation. The construction of both facilities represents a significant capital investment partnership between the Coast Guard and BMS that will support streamlined production and integration of PSC mechanical and communication systems for a simplified installation process.

The Coast Guard modified the construction contract for the first PSC, originally awarded on March 25, 2025, to provide funding for the integration and test facilities via capital expenditure incentives. These incentives benefit the shipyard by providing access to funding for facility upgrades, workforce training and wage increases.

For more information: Polar Security Cutter Program page

“Finnish and Canadian Firms Team Up to Offer Arctic Security Cutters to U.S. Coast Guard” –SixtyDegreesNorth

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Canadian CG MPV. Credit Aker Arctic.

Here we have a post from Peter Rybski (prybski@gmail.com) thought many of my readers might find interesting. It’s reprinted with his permission.

It suggests that a partnership of Canadian and Finnish shipyards may be in the lead to provide two Arctic Security Cutters using the design for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Multi-Purpose Vessel, a light icebreaker, and that follow on ships of this class would be built in the US.

This is not the first time Peter’s analysis has appeared here:

“Analyzing the Arctic Security Cutter Request for Information” –Sixty Degrees North

We have been following the Canadian Coast Guard’s Multi-purpose vessel program.

Canadian CG MPV. Credit Aker Arctic.

Note also that Canadian Shipbuilder Davie has announced an intention to acquire and modernize Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation with facilities in Port Arthur and Galveston.

Aerial photo of Gulf Copper Dry Dock and Rig Repair in Galveston, Texas. In the dry dock is the former USS Texas, length 573 ft (175 m) (overall), beam 95 ft 2.5 in (29.020 m), displacement 27,000 tons, so big enough for a Polar Security Cutter. Shutterstock photo by Felix Mizioznikov.

Finnish and Canadian Firms Team Up to Offer Arctic Security Cutters to U.S. Coast Guard

According to the proposal, Seaspan’s Multi-Purpose Icebreaker design would be built in Finland by Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), with Aker Arctic (who did the concept design) providing support.

PETER RYBSKI
JUL 11, 2025
I’m currently away from Finland, visiting family in the USA. Last week, while I was grilling hamburgers and hot dogs during a family Independence Day Barbecue, a regional Finnish newspaper (Satakunnan Kansa) ran a very interesting article:

RMC’s Nieminen returned from a sales trip to the USA: “Rauma Shipyard is Number One.”

RMC is part of a consortium that is offering two icebreakers to the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as extensive training.

Caption: “We would have the shipyard ready for use at just the right time,” says RMC CEO Mika Nieminen hopefully.

(translation via google, with some corrections for clarification):

A satisfied man walked through Helsinki-Vantaa Airport on Thursday afternoon. RMC CEO Mika Nieminen returned from a sales trip to the USA, where he brought back some good news.

Nieminen was presenting the ship design of the consortium he represents to the US Coast Guard and the reception was excellent.

“Our ship design exceeded expectations and it is the design that the Coast Guard wants. The number one is the Rauma shipyard, which would also build it. The feedback was very positive.”

In addition to RMC, the consortium represented by Nieminen includes the Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan Shipyards and the Finnish ship design firm Aker Arctic Technology Oy.

The Canadian shipyard will start building medium-sized icebreakers based on the same model next year. Canada plans to build 16 icebreakers. This same ship model is now being offered to the US Coast Guard, but with RMC building the ships.

This is clearly referring to Seaspan’s Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) design, which I discussed in a recent article:

Analyzing the Arctic Security Cutter Request for Information

Analyzing the Arctic Security Cutter Request for Information

PETER RYBSKI
·
JUN 15
Read full story

Canada’s Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI, formerly known as the Multi-Purpose Vessel): Modern design that meets all of the listed requirements [for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutters]. The first flight of six vessels (of a planned sixteen) are scheduled to be built by Seaspan at their Vancouver shipyard….

Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyard is at capacity through approximately 2029. While they will begin building MPIs for the Canadian Coast Guard, there is no room to build one for the U.S. Coast Guard in the relevant timeframe….

Building MPIs at RMC is an interesting idea, but I have no idea if that is actually under consideration.

It is more than just under consideration. According to the Satakunnan Kansa article, RMC would build the first two MPIs for the U.S. Coast Guard in Finland by 2028. The deal would also involve working with U.S. shipbuilders to ensure they had the training and skill to build subsequent vessels of the class in the USA. Cost information is not yet available.

Canadian Coast Guard Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI). Source: Seaspan
Note: The MPI image does not show the right propulsors; it will use Steerprop’s contra-rotating propulsors (CRP). Additionally according to Seaspan, the design could easily be upgraded to PC3. Confirmation from Seaspan and Aker Arctic.

In April, Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat published an article about negotiations between the U.S. Coast Guard and RMC to build a significant number of icebreakers, but the details were not subsequently confirmed. Before publishing this article, I reached out to RMC, Seaspan, and Aker Arctic for comments. As of press time, Aker Arctic and Seaspan responded, confirming many of the details in the article.

Arto Uuskallio, Head of Sales at Aker Arctic, commented via e-mail:

It’s natural that we are involved, since the MPI is an Aker Arctic concept, and it’s good to have a partner onboard who understands the possibilities and limitations of the ship concept. More detailed comments will likely come from the shipyards.

Dave Hargreaves, Seaspan’s Senior Vice President for Strategy, Business Development, and Communication, provided the following comments via e-mail:

We have consulted with many U.S. and non-U.S. shipyards regarding their readiness and aptitude to build the MPI design for the U.S. Coast Guard ASC program including Rauma Shipyard in Finland.

Rauma has a track record of delivering ice-capable vessels in less than 36 months — including recent programs. As a fully capable, end-to-end shipyard, Rauma is the lowest risk and best option to meet the 36-month requirement. Unlike other shipyards, Rauma has an active panel line and block fabrication facility that is ready to start production today — it does not require any further investment or ramp up in workforce to begin construction. This significantly lowers the risk of meeting the schedule requirement.

Together, with Rauma and Aker, Seaspan has developed a comprehensive plan detailing how we will work with a U.S. shipyard to transfer the design, knowledge, expertise and build plans to enable future ASC vessels to be built in the United States. This approach will deliver a comprehensive, U.S.-built ASC fleet for the U.S. Coast Guard while enhancing domestic icebreaker shipbuilding — avoiding the delays, costs and risks of long-term, high-investment alternatives.

I take his comment about schedule risk as a subtle dig at Davie/Helsinki Shipyard. I’ve been reading these press releases and comments long enough to see the back-and-forth, sometimes subtle, between Seaspan and Davie, and RMC and Helsinki Shipyard. I expect to read more of this, but am much more interested in tracking the progress of ongoing ship construction (such as the Canadian Polar Icebreakers being built by Seaspan and Davie) than in following their rhetorical barbs.

Helsinki Shipyard has an excellent track record of delivering icebreakers in less than thirty-six months, as I noted here.

Rauma Marine Constructions was unable to provide additional comments by publication time, but did say that more information would be coming out soon.

Thoughts and Comments

The Multi-Purpose Icebreaker is a solid design, and Rauma Marine Constructions is a capable shipyard with a solid track record. As my goal in writing about icebreakers has always been to assist the U.S. Coast Guard in getting the ships that it needs in a relevant timeline, I view the Seaspan/RMC/Aker consortium’s proposal as a positive development.

Davie does not comment on any of its ongoing negotiations, but it seems likely that it is offering its MPPS-100 to the U.S. Coast Guard to be built first in Helsinki Shipyard, and later (perhaps) in Texas.

The only announced player without any information about its proposed design is the United Shipbuilding Alliance created by Bollinger and Edison Chouest Offshore.

May the U.S. Coast Guard get the best ships for its needs in the shortest amount of time and at a good price! I’ll certainly be tracking all of these details closely.

Thanks for reading. Be sure to subscribe and share so that you never miss an update on this fast-moving and important topic.

Until next time-

All the Best,

PGR

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“Analyzing the Arctic Security Cutter Request for Information” –Sixty Degrees North

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Canadian CG MPV. Credit Aker Arctic.

An excellent article here from Sixty Degrees North.

Minor difference with the analysis above, authors states,

“Note that it is about 3,000 nautical miles from Seattle to northern Alaska, so the 6,000 nm range in the RFI is likely insufficient for meaningful operations in the Arctic.”

The 6500 nautical mile range listed in the RFI is probably adequate given the possibility of refueling in Alaska, although longer range is always a desirable attribute.

Note there has been considerable news lately that Canadian Shipbuilder Davie has announced an intention to acquire Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation with facilities in Port Arthur and Galveston. It is always going to be difficult to sell the idea that US military vessels should be built outside the US.