U.S. To Build Its First Heavy Polar Icebreaker In Over 50 Years

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy Integrated Program office have received approval to begin construction of the Polar Security Cutter (PSC), the first heavy polar icebreaker to be built in the United States in more than 50 years.

The announcement was made on December 19, 2024.

The construction is being managed by Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding, located in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The company is the main contractor responsible for the design and construction of the PSC fleet. The program focuses on reducing the delivery time for these critical assets.

The program includes eight Prototype Fabrication Assessment Units (PFAUs), which are in the planning stages. This “crawl-walk-run” strategy aims to enhance the shipyard workforce’s skills and refine building methods before shifting to full-scale production.

Officials say that this approach will lead to more cost-effective, precise, and reliable construction processes.

The Coast Guard’s operational polar icebreaking fleet currently includes: Polar Star, which is a 399-foot heavy icebreaker commissioned in 1976, and Healy, a 420-foot medium icebreaker commissioned in 1999.

Additionally, the Coast Guard recently acquired a commercially available polar icebreaker to increase its presence and mission capabilities in the Arctic.

The new Polar Security Cutter will be 460 feet (140 meters) long, with a beam of 88 feet (28 meters) and a full-load displacement of 23,200 tons.

It will be powered by diesel-electric engines and can accommodate 186 personnel.

The vessel will feature a large flight deck to support helicopters like the CH-53 King Stallion and Sikorsky H-60. Its hull design is based on the Polar 2 class icebreaker, to easily navigate in polar regions.

In 2019, a $745.9 million fixed-price contract was awarded to VT Halter Marine for the detailed design and construction of the first PSC.

This contract is part of a multi-year program to acquire up to three multi-mission Polar Security Cutters to replace the aging Polar Star and meet operational demands.

Once completed, the PSC fleet will support U.S. operations in polar regions, including scientific research, search and rescue missions and national security efforts.

Reference: USCG