USCG’s Newest Polar Icebreaker 'Storis' Begins First Arctic Mission

USCG icebreaker Storis (WAGB 21) — Image Credits: USCG

The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest icebreaker, USCGC Storis (WAGB 21), has begun its first Arctic mission after successfully transiting the Panama Canal.

This is the first polar icebreaker acquired by the Coast Guard in more than 25 years.

Storis left Bollinger Shipyards in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on June 3, 2025. It reached the northern entrance of the Panama Canal on June 11 and waited for 18 hours outside Limon Bay, near the Gatun locks. The vessel then started its canal transit, which took around eight hours, and exited the Miraflores locks late on June 12.

Though U.S. military vessels have had the right to quick passage through the Panama Canal since it was handed over to Panama in 1999, it wasn’t confirmed if Storis received any special treatment. The U.S. Coast Guard and Panama Canal Authority didn’t comment on whether the icebreaker paid transit fees or was given free passage.

However, a document confirmed that Storis was given priority access. At the time, the southbound canal traffic was light, and the average wait was about half a day. Transit costs for large vessels can reach up to $500,000, with most paying between $60,000 and $150,000.

The vessel is expected to arrive in San Diego on July 2, 2025. Its official commissioning ceremony will take place in August in Juneau, Alaska, which will serve as its future homeport. Until shore infrastructure in Juneau is upgraded, Storis will temporarily be based in Seattle, alongside the Coast Guard’s two other polar icebreakers.

The ship was purchased from Edison Chouest Offshore on December 20, 2024. Previously named Aiviq, the vessel was renamed Storis and modified to improve its communication and self-defense systems before deployment.

The acquisition was made possible by the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 and the Coast Guard’s 2024 funding. This purchase is separate from the official Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program but is intended to fill in capability gaps until the new icebreakers arrive around 2030.

The Storis is commanded by Captain Keith M. Ropella, who also served as the commanding officer of Polar Star (WAGB 10) from July 2022 to July 2024. The ship operates with a hybrid crew made up of Coast Guard cuttermen and civilian mariners.

This is the second Coast Guard vessel to carry the name Storis. The original Storis was well known for its Arctic missions and served for 64 years before being decommissioned in 2007.

The new Storis will carry on that legacy by supporting Coast Guard operations in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It will help cover missions that were previously carried out by older cutters built between the 1970s and 1990s.

The commissioning of Storis is part of a plan under the Coast Guard’s “Force Design 2028” strategy, announced by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on May 21. This initiative aims to improve the Coast Guard’s capabilities by reforming its operations, technology, and shipbuilding programs.

The U.S. Coast Guard currently operates three polar icebreakers, 21 domestic icebreaking vessels, and 16 ice-capable buoy tenders. The long-term goal is to build a fleet of eight to nine polar icebreakers. President Trump had earlier stated that the U.S. should aim to acquire at least 40 icebreakers in total.

While Storis begins its mission, the Coast Guard’s Polar Security Cutter Program is underway. The lead vessel of this program, Polar Sentinel (WMSP-21), began full production in May 2024 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship will be 460 feet long with an 86-foot beam. It will carry over 180 personnel and a maritime helicopter and be capable of 90-day missions.

The Polar Sentinel, powered by a 45,000-horsepower diesel-electric engine, will be able to break through ice up to 8 feet thick. For defense, it will be equipped with 12.7mm machine guns and 30mm autocannons.

Canadian shipbuilder Davie plans to buy shipyard facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas to support U.S. icebreaker production.

Davie’s CEO, James Davies, said the goal is to turn Texas into a major center for advanced shipbuilding. He added that the company, along with partner Gulf Copper, is committed to delivering quality ships on time and within budget to help meet U.S. security needs.

Reference: thedefensepost

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