Four shipbuilders from the United States, Canada, and Finland have formed a strategic partnership to pursue the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutter program. The coalition includes Bollinger Shipyards of Louisiana, Seaspan from North Vancouver, Rauma Shipyards, and Aker Arctic of Finland. This initiative aims to enhance the U.S. icebreaking fleet, which is critical for operations in the Arctic.
The Arctic Security Cutter is designed as a medium-sized icebreaker that will complement the Coast Guard’s largest vessels, the Polar Security Cutters. In a joint statement, the shipbuilders emphasized their collective expertise, stating, “Together, the four companies represent the world’s premier icebreaker shipbuilding companies.” They believe this partnership will expedite the development of a modernized icebreaking fleet, aligning with the goals set by former President Donald Trump to boost U.S. maritime capabilities.
Using the trilateral framework established by the ICE Pact among the U.S., Canada, and Finland, the partnership aims for the first vessel delivery within 36 months of contract award. This timeline underscores their commitment to ensuring that the Arctic Security Cutter program is firmly rooted in American shipbuilding.
The U.S. Coast Guard has actively sought feedback from domestic and international shipbuilders to accelerate the design and production of this new class of icebreaker. The proposed vessel, named the “Seaspan-Aker Multi-Purpose Icebreaker,” is said to meet all the operational requirements outlined for the Arctic Security Cutter.
According to the shipbuilders, this design boasts capabilities that include breaking through four feet of ice, traveling 12,000 nautical miles, and sustaining operations for over 60 days. This functionality is crucial for addressing the evolving mission needs of the U.S. Coast Guard in some of the planet’s most challenging environments. The shared multi-mission design with the Canadian Coast Guard is expected to create the largest icebreaking fleet in the world, enhancing interoperability and maintenance support.
Bollinger Shipyards and Seaspan have existing contracts for separate icebreakers for their respective countries. Rauma Shipyards and Aker Arctic are recognized leaders in ship design and construction in Finland, a country known for its strong icebreaker production capabilities.
Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, highlighted the importance of having a ready-to-build design, stating, “Speculative designs can derail programs, delay delivery and devastate shipyards. The Seaspan-Aker MPI design is the most mature, construction-ready design available, and we’re bringing proven capability, hard-earned lessons, and unmatched U.S. capacity to get it built.”
Earlier this year, Bollinger announced a partnership with Edison Chouest Offshore, referred to as the “United Shipbuilding Alliance,” which aims to provide an integrated solution for the accelerated design, construction, and delivery of next-generation icebreakers.
The initiative follows the U.S. Coast Guard’s Request for Information from April 11, 2023, titled “Arctic Security Cutter (ASC): Icebreaking Capable Vessels or Vessel Designs that are Ready for Construction.” This request emphasized the need for a commercial vessel capable of supporting national security missions, with a proposed acquisition timeline of 33 months from contract award to delivery.
This partnership signifies a significant step towards enhancing the U.S. icebreaking capacity and ensuring readiness for operations in the Arctic, an area of increasing strategic importance.
