Bollinger Shipyards embarks on America's first heavy icebreaker in half a century.

According to a PR published by Bollinger Shipyards on August 10, 2023, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the firm recently started construction on the first module of the USCGC Polar Sentinel, the first heavy icebreaker made in the U.S. in five decades.
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Steel cutting ceremony of the prototype of the future icebreaker USCGC Polar Sentinel. (Picture source: Bollinger Shipyards)

Due to the immense pressure from the ice, these ships need to have thicker hulls compared to regular Coast Guard cutters. Thus, building a prototype is essential to test new systems and gather lessons before the main construction phase.

Currently, the Coast Guard has two operational polar icebreakers (the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star and the Coast Guard Cutter Healy).

The Polar Star, commissioned in 1976, stands as the only operational heavy icebreaker. Its vital services, from ensuring Antarctic resupply missions to potential Arctic operations, indicate the essential nature of having a formidable presence in the polar waters.

Yet, the Polar Star has been navigating beyond its intended service life of 30 years, thus underscoring the pressing need for new and modernized vessels.

The Healy, a medium icebreaker commissioned in 1999, plays an equally pivotal role, especially for Arctic scientific expeditions. With state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, it symbolizes the intertwining of scientific pursuits and maritime operations in the ever-evolving Arctic landscape.

About the PSC

The Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program aims to bolster U.S. capabilities in the Polar Regions, ensuring access and fulfilling various Coast Guard missions, from defense readiness to environmental protection. These new cutters will operate globally, braving extreme conditions from polar to tropical regions.

The cutter will boast a displacement of 22,900 long tons, measuring 460 feet in length and featuring an 88-foot beam. She will maintain her Polar Class 2 ice classification and be propelled by advanced Caterpillar diesel generators, propelling ABB Azipod units and a shaft line.

With an extended endurance of 90 days, she will comfortably house 186 individuals and be armed with 2 × 30mm autocannons and 6 × .50 caliber Browning M2 machine guns. The PSC will include a helipad and hangar, enabling versatile roles in security, research, and rescue missions.