US Coast Guard acquires first polar icebreaker in 25 years to fill critical Arctic sovereignty gap.

On December 23, 2024, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) officially acquired the Aiviq, a 360-foot Polar Class 3-equivalent icebreaker, marking the first addition to its icebreaking fleet in over 25 years. Built in 2012, the vessel was purchased for $125 million under a fixed-price contract with Offshore Surface Vessels LLC. The Aiviq will be renamed USCGC Storis (WAGB-21) and is expected to enter Coast Guard service in 2026 following modifications.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Currently, the US Coast Guard's fleet includes two operational icebreakers: the Polar Star, a heavy icebreaker nearing 50 years of service, and the Healy, a medium icebreaker sidelined earlier this year due to an electrical fire. (Picture source: USCG)

The acquisition of the Aiviq addresses a gap in the Coast Guard’s polar capabilities. Currently, the fleet includes two operational icebreakers: the Polar Star, a heavy icebreaker nearing 50 years of service, and the Healy, a medium icebreaker sidelined earlier this year due to an electrical fire. Increased activity in the Arctic, such as joint Russian-Chinese patrols near Alaska, has underscored the need for additional icebreaking assets to support U.S. sovereignty and security in the region. The vessel will undergo limited modifications before commissioning, including repainting the hull red and labeling it as WAGB-21. It will be assessed further for full operational capability in alignment with Coast Guard standards.

This new purchase does not alter the Coast Guard’s ongoing plans to develop a fleet of eight to nine polar icebreakers. The PSC program, managed by Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding, has faced delays, with the first vessel, Polar Sentinel, now projected for delivery by 2030. The Coast Guard has cited challenges related to the specialized requirements for constructing heavy icebreakers, which have not been built in U.S. shipyards for nearly 50 years. As a bridging measure, the Aiviq will provide limited icebreaking and operational support until the PSC fleet becomes operational.

For now, this new icebreaker will provide interim capabilities while the US Coast Guard awaits the delayed Polar Security Cutter (PSC) fleet. Once operational, the vessel will be permanently homeported in Juneau, Alaska, pending the completion of necessary infrastructure improvements. The Aiviq was originally constructed by Edison Chouest Offshore in Louisiana to support oil exploration in the Arctic.

It is equipped for icebreaking and anchor-handling operations, featuring ABS A3 classification, which allows for navigation in polar ice, including multiyear ice floes. Its propulsion system includes four Caterpillar C280-12 engines, enabling speeds of up to 15 knots in open water and 5 knots in 1-meter-thick ice. The vessel is also equipped with a helideck, controllable-pitch propellers, and dynamic positioning capabilities. Its design includes accommodations for 64 personnel and a bollard pull capacity of 200 metric tons. Since its construction, the vessel has conducted Arctic and Antarctic missions, including oil spill response and refueling operations.

The decision to name the vessel Storis reflects the Coast Guard's tradition of selecting meaningful names from multiple proposals. The name honors the original USCGC Storis (WMEC-38), a cutter that served from 1942 to 2007. The original Storis was notable for conducting Arctic patrols, facilitating the first American transit of the Northwest Passage, and operating as the oldest commissioned cutter in the Coast Guard's fleet at the time of its decommissioning. It also participated in key missions such as responding to the 1964 Alaska earthquake and conducting search and rescue operations, including the 1990 rescue of the M/V Alaskan Monarch.

The initial crew for the Storis will consist of approximately 60 officers and enlisted personnel, who are expected to begin assignments in 2025. Temporary homeporting arrangements are being evaluated until the Juneau infrastructure is completed. The acquisition was facilitated by the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 and fiscal year 2024 appropriations, which allocated funding for the purchase. This action aligns with the Coast Guard’s broader strategy to address Arctic operational requirements while maintaining flexibility in its long-term procurement goals.

The Arctic region is experiencing increased geopolitical activity driven by climate change, which has made its waters more accessible and economically significant. Russia, with a fleet of over 40 icebreakers, including nuclear-powered vessels, has emphasized year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route to enhance its strategic and commercial interests. China, identifying itself as a "near-Arctic state," is building icebreakers and collaborating with Russia on Arctic shipping developments, such as the "Ice Silk Road."

In response, nations like the United States, Canada, and Finland have initiated cooperative measures under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) to strengthen their icebreaking capabilities and address the presence of other major powers. The focus on icebreaker development reflects the necessity of these vessels in ensuring safe navigation, supporting territorial and resource claims, and adapting to the evolving dynamics of the Arctic.