The U.S. Coast Guard has accelerated its medium icebreaker recapitalization by awarding two build contracts for up to six Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs), splitting early production between Finland and the United States. The service announced the awards on 29 December 2025, with the contracts dated 26 December 2025.
Under the arrangement, Rauma Marine Constructions will build up to two ASCs in Rauma, Finland, with delivery of the first ship targeted for 2028. Bollinger Shipyards will build up to four ASCs at its Lockport, Louisiana operation, with the first U.S.-built cutter expected in 2029.
The Coast Guard framed the split-build approach as a way to draw on Finland’s established icebreaker delivery track record while “on-shoring” know-how to expand U.S. capacity over time. The program also sits within the service’s broader Force Design 2028 modernization agenda.
Design work will leverage the Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) baseline from Seaspan Shipyards, developed with Aker Arctic Technology Inc., and adapted for the ASC mission set.
The awards also align with the trilateral ICE Pact (United States–Canada–Finland), which is intended to strengthen cooperation on icebreaker design, construction, and industrial capacity, including knowledge exchange across partner shipyards and supply chains.
For the Coast Guard, the schedule matters: industry reporting notes the first ASC deliveries would mark the service’s first new Arctic icebreaker newbuilds since USCGC Healy, delivered in 1990. With the ASC program expected to complement the heavier Polar Security Cutter effort, the service is positioning for more persistent Arctic operations as access and strategic competition increase.
