The US and Finland have signed a memorandum of understanding that will see Bollinger Shipyards lead an industry team comprising Rauma Marine Construction, Seaspan Shipyard and Aker Arctic Technology to build six Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) for the US Coast Guard (USCG). The team will leverage the production-ready Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) design developed by Seaspan and Aker Arctic for operation in polar environments.
President Trump has signed an executive memorandum to authorise the construction of the vessels abroad, to address what the US sees as an urgent national security need in the Arctic. The memorandum invokes the president’s authority to permit foreign construction “as a national security necessity” and directs the USCG to submit a plan to construct the ASCs “in a manner that promotes the on-shoring of expertise to build follow-on ASCs domestically”.
The first three vessels will be built simultaneously by Rauma in Finland and Bollinger in the US, with the remaining three to be built in the US. Delivery of the first three is expected within 36 months of a contract award. Bollinger will assume full programme leadership for US-based construction and long-term sustainment. With the ability to break 1.2m of ice and operate for over 60 days, the ASCs will enable year-round access to polar regions for national defence, maritime sovereignty, scientific research and search and rescue operations.
The USCG currently operates two ASCs: one commissioned in 1976, the other having recently been converted from a commercial vessel and commissioned earlier this year. The USCG says that, in then long-term at least, nine ASCs are needed to serve US national security needs in the Arctic.
