The Coast Guard will use Juneau, Alaska, as the homeport for its commercially procured icebreaker, the service announced Wednesday.The Coast Guard is in the process of acquiring a commercial icebreaker, named Aiviq, built as a support vessel for Arctic oil exploration. The service plans to convert the ship into a medium polar icebreaker, a process estimated to take two years, according to a Coast Guard release.
Aiviq would be the second medium polar icebreaker in the Coast Guard’s fleet, joining USCGC Healy (WAGB-20). USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) is the U.S.’ only heavy polar icebreaker.
“The United States is an Arctic nation, and the Coast Guard is vital to providing presence in our sovereign waters and the polar regions,” Coast Guard Vice Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday, Coast Guard said in the release. “As we continue to build the Polar Security Cutters, acquiring a commercially available polar icebreaker will enable the Coast Guard to increase our national presence in the Arctic, and homeporting this cutter in Alaska demonstrates the Service’s steadfast commitment to the region.”
Both of the Coast Guard’s icebreakers are currently unavailable. Polar Star is undergoing the fourth phrase of a planned service life extension, set to finish this month, at Mare Island in California, USNI News previously reported.
Healy canceled its Arctic patrol after a July electrical fire.
The Coast Guard aims to expand its Polar Security Cutter program despite delays in construction. The first hull, USCGC Polar Sentinel (PSC-1), being built by Bollinger, will not be delivered until 2028, a delay of three years, with the design estimated to be completed in 2024, USNI News previously reported.
Aiviq’s purchase is meant to bridge the gap due to the delays.
