Shipbuilders from the United States, Canada, and Finland have come together in a pitch to build icebreaking vessels for the U.S. Coast Guard.
The partners, which include shipbuilders Bollinger Shipyards LLC, Lockport, La.; Seaspan Shipyards, North Vancouver, Canada; Rauma Marine Constructions Oy (RMC), Rauma, Finland; as well as specialist engineering firm Aker Arctic Technology Oy, Helsinki, Finland, said in a joint statement on Tuesday that they plan to provide what they describe as "the lowest-risk, fastest delivery solution" for expanding America’s Arctic maritime capabilities.
The partnership is framed as a response to U.S. policy priorities and aims to strengthen the domestic industrial base by transitioning advanced shipbuilding knowledge, design, and technology to the U.S. The collaboration builds on the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, commonly referred to as the ICE Pact, signed in July 2024 between the U.S., Canada, and Finland.
In April, the Coast Guard issued a request for information seeking an existing vessel or a production-ready, mature icebreaking vessel design up to 360’x78’ that could be delivered within a 36-month timeframe. The document said a contract for up to three medium icebreakers, referred to as Arctic security cutters (ASC), could be in a future contract.
“In line with President Trump’s directive to grow and modernize America’s icebreaking fleet, Bollinger is proud to lead this partnership with a focus on speed, quality, certainty, and results,” said Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, which is currently building the Coast Guard's polar security cutters after acquiring VT Halter Marine, Pascagoula, Miss. — now renamed Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding — in 2022.
“Speculative designs can derail programs, delay delivery, and devastate shipyards. The Seaspan-Aker MPI design is the most mature, construction-ready design available, and we’re bringing proven capability, hard-earned lessons, and unmatched U.S. capacity to get it built," said Bordelon. "With Bollinger’s access to more than 4,000 skilled workers and over 30 facilities across the country, no one is better positioned to move fast and deliver the Arctic security cutter.”
The MPI (multi-purpose icebreaker) design, developed by Seaspan and Aker Arctic, is described as exceeding all Coast Guard requirements. It is capable of breaking through 4' of ice, traveling 12,000 nautical miles, and operating for over 60 days. Shared design elements with Canadian vessels are intended to enhance interoperability and reduce maintenance complexity, the partners said.
“This strategic collaboration presents a unique opportunity to apply our proven capabilities in support of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic mission,” said Mika Nieminen, RMC president and CEO. “We are fully prepared to begin construction immediately, leveraging a mature design and deep experience in building technically complex vessels for operation in severe winter conditions. With a fully operational production line and world-class facilities, we bring reliability and results — not projections. Beyond construction, Rauma provides added value through crew training, bridge simulator programs, and ice trials to support successful commissioning and elevate the technological and operational capabilities.”
The companies emphasize that their proposed design is fully developed and production-ready, unlike competing proposals that may require significant investment and development time.
John McCarthy, CEO of Seaspan Shipyards, said, “Together, we’ve assembled the world’s foremost experts in icebreaking construction to deliver a low-risk, mission-ready solution that fully meets the U.S. Coast Guard’s requirements. Together, through the ICE Pact, we’re strengthening Arctic security and advancing the long-term capabilities of our nations’ shipbuilding industries.”
Aker Arctic, which has designed most of the world’s operational icebreakers, brings significant expertise to the effort.
Mika Hovilainen, CEO of Aker Arctic, said, “This partnership highlights our commitment to advancing maritime security and innovation in the Arctic region. The vessel we are offering has been developed for the Canadian Coast Guard and includes specialized capabilities that are essential for fulfilling the Coast Guard's missions. Together, we will leverage our expertise to build state-of-the-art icebreakers that meet the highest standards of mission capability and reliability."
