The vessels will be based on a multi-purpose icebreaker design by Seaspan Shipyards of Vancouver, developed with Aker Arctic Technology Inc of Helsinki, and supported by cooperation with Rauma Marine Construction Oy in Finland. Construction will be led from Bollinger’s shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, with additional support from facilities across the Gulf Coast to meet the delivery schedule set by President Trump.
“The Arctic Security Cutter is one of the most consequential and time-sensitive shipbuilding programs in U.S. Coast Guard history, and today’s contract award is a clear vote of confidence in the men and women of Bollinger,” said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “With clear direction from President Trump and an aggressive delivery timeline, our mission is straightforward: leverage the full strength of our shipbuilding facilities across the Gulf Coast, along with our proven partners, to deliver these cutters on schedule and mission ready on day one.”
“By centering ASC construction in Houma, Louisiana, while drawing on our broader footprint, we gain the flexibility and capacity to move fast without compromising safety or quality,” Bordelon added. “Our responsibility is to deliver a stable, reliable platform that Coast Guard crews can trust from their first mission underway and for decades to come.”
The four vessels form part of a wider programme that could ultimately deliver up to eleven Arctic Security Cutters under the trilateral ICE Pact framework. Together with the Polar Security Cutter programme, the new class is intended to provide the Coast Guard with a modern, layered icebreaking fleet capable of supporting sovereignty, security and year-round operations in the Arctic.
