The United States has announced a major step in rebuilding its polar fleet, awarding a contract for the design and construction of six Arctic security cutters (ASC) to an international industry team led by Bollinger Shipyards, joined by Rauma Marine Constructions, Seaspan Shipyards, and Aker Arctic Technology.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump made the announcement during a White House event, where he called the program a key investment in America’s maritime industrial base and Arctic capabilities.
Under the plan, the first three vessels will be built in parallel by Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland and Bollinger in the United States, while the remaining three will be constructed domestically. Delivery of the initial trio is expected within 36 months of the contract award.
The new cutters will be based on the multi-purpose icebreaker (MPI) design developed by Seaspan Shipyards and Aker Arctic. The design, which has undergone extensive engineering and testing, will enable immediate transition to production while ensuring interoperability with allied fleets, including the Canadian Coast Guard.
The Arctic security cutter will be capable of breaking through four feet of ice, sailing 12,000 nautical miles, and operating independently for over 60 days. The vessels are designed to provide the U.S. Coast Guard with year-round access to polar regions for defense, sovereignty enforcement, research, and search and rescue missions.
“The Arctic Security Cutter will enable the United States to rapidly project American power, enforce our sovereignty, and reassert American dominance in the Arctic,” said Ben Bordelon , President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards.
“With a hot production line and our ice-class experience, we are ready to deliver the Arctic Security Cutters on an accelerated timeline in close cooperation with our U.S. partner and allied industry. Together, we will provide the Coast Guard with the world’s most capable Arctic security vessels,” added Mika Nieminen , CEO of Rauma Marine Constructions.
“Seaspan is extremely proud to work hand in hand with our American and Finnish partners, Bollinger, Aker and Rauma, to provide the U.S. Coast Guard with a state-of-the-art icebreaker design that is mission ready for extreme ice conditions and will fortify and strengthen Arctic security,” commented John McCarthy , CEO Seaspan Shipyards.
“Aker Arctic is honored to bring our proven icebreaker expertise to this partnership. The ASC program is a milestone for allied Arctic collaboration, and we are proud to help deliver world-class capability for the U.S. Coast Guard,” noted Mika Hovilainen , CEO of Aker Arctic.
Additionally, Canada’s Davie Shipyards will contribute to the broader Arctic shipbuilding effort by producing a separate class of vessels based on its fourth-generation multi-purpose polar support ship (MPPS) design.
The ASC project forms part of the ICE Pact trilateral framework between the United States, Canada, and Finland, designed to strengthen allied cooperation in polar shipbuilding. The parallel construction approach is intended to accelerate delivery of early hulls while establishing a foundation for full U.S. domestic production and long-term sustainment under Bollinger’s leadership.
The ASC fleet, built under the ICE Pact framework, is set to form one of the largest and most capable icebreaking forces in the world, it was concluded.