Multinational production begins on Coast Guard’s new Arctic Security Cutters

The U.S. Coast Guard has given the green light to shipyards in Louisiana and Finland to start work on the first six new icebreaking Arctic Security Cutters.

“Finalizing these contracts represents decisive action to guarantee American security in the Arctic,” said Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard.

The contracts signed this month will pay Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC, of Lockport, La., about $2.2 billion for four cutters.

Bollinger will build the cutters in conjunction with Finnish company Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, whose signed contracts are valued at about $1.1 billion.

The awards were announced late last year so that the shipbuilders could begin planning while the final details were negotiated.

Bollinger said it decided to go ahead and cut steel on the first cutter on April 20 even before the final OK was processed.

“We believe the United States cannot afford to lose another decade building its Arctic presence,” said Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards.

Strategic competitors have increased their presence in the region in recent years as climate change has opened additional sea lanes around the Arctic waters above Europe, Asia and North America.

Russia has more than 40 icebreakers, although many are smaller and are assigned to clearing ports on the country’s long northern Siberian border. But the inventory also includes four newer Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers.

China has three major icebreakers and plans to add to its capacity. Though its border is more than 500 miles from the Arctic Circle, China declared itself a “near-Arctic State” in a 2018 government policy report.

The U.S. currently has only three icebreakers in the Coast Guard fleet.

Russia and China have conducted joint military and commercial exercises in the Arctic. U.S. officials have been concerned by Russian plans to field two Ivan Papanin-class “combat icebreakers,” which are armed with an AK-176MA 76 mm gun in a turret on the foredeck and positions for missile launchers to be added.

The Coast Guard said the Arctic Security Cutter program is a “cornerstone” of U.S. strategy to defend national sovereignty, secure critical shipping lanes, protect energy and mineral resources and counter any adversarial presence in the Arctic.

“These new cutters will enable the Coast Guard to control, secure, and defend U.S. Alaskan borders,” the service said in a statement.

Bolinger said the company has built more than 185 vessels for the Coast Guard and the Navy since 1985.

The first cutter is scheduled for delivery in 2028, with all six to be delivered by 2031. The Coast Guard has said it wants to eventually acquire 11 of the cutters.

Bollinger said it will use its manufacturing network of 22 facilities and more than 4,000 skilled workers to accelerate the delivery of the ships.

“By leveraging a design already selected by close allies and supported by an established supply chain, the program offers significant advantages,” its statement said.

The Arctic Security Cutter is based on the Finnish Multi-Purpose Icebreaker, with a displacement of 9,000 tons, a length of 328 feet and the ability to cut through four feet of ice. It’s expected to have a range of 12,000 nautical miles and can operate at sea for up to 60 days.

The weaponry on the vessels ranges from twin .50 caliber machine guns to twin stabilized 25 mm guns. The larger patrol boat is equipped with armor plating.