The Coast Guard currently has two operational icebreakers in its fleet. "Strategically, icebreakers provide persistent presence in a way that's not met by anything else in the (Arctic) maritime region," Randy Kee, senior advisor for arctic security affairs with the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, said Feb. 8 in a virtual meeting with the Atlantic Council. Arctic routes for shipping are opening up in ways like never before and there are ample opportunities for commercial fishing and the mining of minerals to expand. It’s been estimated that there are as much as 90B barrels of untapped oil in the Arctic. Access to the Arctic requires all nations operate by international rules. But unless the U.S. can operate freely - requiring icebreakers - it may not be able to participate in those opportunities or protect its interests. There are six new authorized polar icebreakers capable of operating in the Arctic to bolster the CG’s icebreaking fleet, Kee said. (Source: DoD 02/09/22) U.S. Needs More Icebreakers for Arctic > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News
Mississippi Gulf Coast Note: In 2019, VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Miss., was given a $746M contract to design and build the first of what could be three heavy polar icebreakers for the Coast Guard. Its expected delivery date is in 2024. The contract included options for two more heavy icebreakers, which would bring its overall value to $1.94B with work continuing through 2027. (Source: The AP 04/23/19 & VT Halter Marine 05/07/19) Press-Release_USCG-PSC_Singapore-Exchange-FINAL_updatedMay29.pdf (vthm.com)
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