According to Davie Defense, two of the ships will be constructed at affiliate Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, while three vessels will be built at Gulf Copper facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas. The contract is scheduled to run through February 2035 and maintains the previously announced delivery timeline for all five ships.
The Arctic Security Cutter programme forms part of a broader U.S. government initiative to expand the national Arctic fleet with a planned total of 11 vessels. According to the company, the programme is intended to strengthen U.S. Arctic operations, maritime safety and national security capabilities.
Philip Burns-O’Brien, chief executive officer of Davie Defense, said, “Today’s news marks a major milestone in the ASC program and reinforces Davie Defense’s role in delivering next-generation cutters to strengthen U.S. Arctic readiness and maritime security.”
“We are proud to work alongside the Coast Guard to advance this strategic program and strengthen America’s icebreaking capability,” Burns-O’Brien added.
Davie Defense stated that the Arctic Security Cutters are designed to operate in some of the world’s most demanding maritime environments. According to the company, the vessels will support Coast Guard missions linked to Arctic access, security and operational readiness.
James Davies, co-founder of the Inocea Group, said, “These vessels will strengthen the U.S. Coast Guard’s capability in one of the world’s most strategically important regions.”
“The Arctic is increasingly strategic to global security and economic resilience, and these vessels will provide the U.S. Coast Guard with critical capability in a region where reliability and operational readiness are non-negotiable,” Davies added. “We are committed to executing this program with long-term partnership in mind.”
Davie Defense said the programme will support the transfer of Arctic shipbuilding expertise to the United States while strengthening industrial capacity and workforce development along the Texas Gulf Coast. The company stated that the project complements Gulf Copper’s existing work on modules for Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Flight III destroyers for the U.S. Navy.
In 2025, Davie Defense acquired Gulf Copper’s shipbuilding assets in Texas as part of efforts to expand American shipbuilding capability. According to the company, the acquisition is expected to create new employment opportunities and support broader industrial development.
The company also announced that a groundbreaking ceremony for the development of Gulf Copper facilities in Galveston will take place on June 1, 2026. According to Davie Defense, the project could include up to $1 billion in additional investment into the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
