Davie Defense said building the first two cutters at its sister facility in Finland will allow it to meet the Coast Guard’s accelerated schedule to deliver the first vessel in 2028, while American shipbuilders work alongside Finnish icebreaker specialists. The company said this approach will support the efficient, fully American construction of three additional cutters at its facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.
Kai Skvarla, Chief Executive Officer of Davie Defense, said: “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.”
Davie said its Arctic Security Cutter design is based on a proven platform, with seven previous variants delivered from Helsinki Shipyard that are currently in service. Davie Defense is the U.S. arm of INOCEA, a UK-owned maritime group operating in Finland, Canada and the United States, which in 2025 acquired Gulf Copper & Manufacturing’s shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur.
James Davies, Co-Founder of INOCEA Group, 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.” Alex Vicefield, Co-Founder of INOCEA Group, added: “Our focus is on disciplined execution for the U.S. Coast Guard – combining proven designs with Helsinki Shipyard’s world-leading expertise helping re-establish world-class shipbuilding capability in Texas, where we will deliver cutters on-time and on-budget.”
Further details on program milestones will be announced in coordination with the Coast Guard. The Arctic Security Cutter is designed to operate in some of the world’s most challenging maritime environments, providing a modern icebreaking fleet to support national security, maritime safety and polar access.
