Davie Defense has been awarded a contract from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to build five Arctic security cutters (ASCs), a new class of polar icebreaker critical to increasing the US presence in the Arctic.
The ASC is a new class of polar icebreakers designed to conduct US Coast Guard missions in the world’s most challenging maritime environments. The vessel will provide the coast guard with a modern icebreaking fleet to support national security, maritime safety, and polar access.
As part of a program authorizing up to eleven ASCs under the Presidential Memorandum “Construction of Arctic Security Cutters,” the first two vessels will be built in Finland at Davie Defense’s sister company, Helsinki Shipyard.
Constructing the initial ships in Finland will help the US Coast Guard meet its accelerated timeline, with the first ASC scheduled for delivery in 2028.
During this phase, American shipbuilders will work alongside Helsinki’s experienced icebreaker specialists. The knowledge transfer is expected to support the efficient construction of the remaining three ASCs in the United States at Davie’s shipyards in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.
“We’re deeply honored by this vote of confidence. We can’t wait to get started on delivering mission-ready cutters to our valued U.S. Coast Guard partner. By anchoring construction in Texas, while drawing on Helsinki Shipyard’s proven icebreaker expertise, we can deliver the ASCs to meet the Coast Guard’s operational needs in the world’s harshest environments,” Kai Skvarla , Chief Executive Officer, Davie Defense, said.
“This contract underscores our role as a trusted Arctic shipbuilding partner to the U.S. Coast Guard. As strategic competition in the Arctic accelerates, we are fully committed to delivering world-class icebreakers capable of enabling sustained operations,” James Davies , Co-Founder, INOCEA Group, said.
Davie’s ASC design is based on a platform with seven previous variants delivered from Helsinki Shipyard. These variants are all in service today. Further details regarding program milestones will be announced in coordination with the USCG, the company highlighted.