Bollinger Shipyards announced July 2 it has reached an agreement on final contract terms with the U.S. Coast Guard to begin production on the Arctic Security Cutter program, a major step forward to advance U.S. abilities to operate in the strategic Arctic regions.
Bollinger will build the Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) design from Seaspan Shipyards under a deal inked in January. The MPI design was originally developed for the Canadian Coast Guard under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy in partnership with Railotech, formerly known as Aker Arctic.
“By leveraging a design already selected by close allies and supported by an established supply chain, the program offers significant advantages in sustainment, training, interoperability and lifecycle affordability,” according to a statement from Bollinger. “This approach directly supports the administration’s emphasis on accelerating timelines and delivering capability to the Coast Guard without delay.”
The 328'x67'x21' design will run on diesel-electric propulsion using variable-speed generation with a DC-bus system that supplies 10,100 kW of installed power and 7,200 kW of propulsion power. The ships are designed for operations in first-year Arctic ice at speeds up to 4 knots in 1 meter (3.28’) of ice.
Key performance characteristics include a 12,000-nautical-mile range, gross tonnage of 7,606 tons, displacement of approximately 9,000 tons, and accommodations for 85 personnel. The vessels will be built to Lloyd Register’s Polar Class PC4 notation.
Under contracts announced by the Coast Guard in December, Rauma Marine Constructions will construct up to two Arctic Security Cutters in Finland for delivery beginning in 2028. Bollinger will build up to four vessels in the U.S., with the first hull expected in 2029.
Bollinger said it will apply its integrated manufacturing network with more than a dozen facilities and a 4,000-plus skilled workforce across the Gulf of Mexico region.
“We are honored in the trust President Trump and the U.S. Government has placed in Bollinger as the lead American shipyard to deliver on the critical Arctic Security Cutter program,” said Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “Our objective has always been clear: deliver a proven Arctic capability to the Coast Guard, strengthen the American shipbuilding industrial base, and provide taxpayers with the best long-term value through commonality, sustainment efficiencies and low-risk acquisition approach.”
“We believe the United States cannot afford to lose another decade building its Arctic presence, and we are committed to delivering these vessels with the urgency this mission and our President demands.”
“The progress we’ve made to date on the ASC program reflects the strength of our partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and the skill of our shipbuilders across the Gulf of America,” Bordelon added. “This award not only reinforces Bollinger’s leading role in revitalizing the domestic shipbuilding industrial base but also highlights the importance of investing in American manufacturing and the workforce that powers it.”
