Two new icebreakers are to be homeported in Alaska in coming years, the U.S. Coast Guard announced on April 16.
With the anticipated delivery of the first Arctic security Cutters by the end of 2028, the Coast Guard is already planning to ensure necessary infrastructure and support are in place to receive these icebreakers. Also, readying crews ready and homeport facilities, including housing, will be essential to meet emerging Arctic security challenges, the Coast Guard said.
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mulin said that the homeporting of these icebreakers in Alaska will be a decisive step forward in securing the nation's Arctic frontier.
Homeporting of these new icebreakers builds on the historic expansion of the Coast Guard's icebreaker fleet in the Arctic.
The announcement also came from Alaska's congressional delegation, with word that a third icebreaker may also be homeported in Alaska.
With existing commercial fisheries moving north due to climate change and others potentially opening up, such news is of importance to Alaska's commercial fishing industry.
The announcement marks a milestone in the U.S. Arctic capability, following shipbuilding contract awards for up to 11 Arctic security Cutters. Contracts were awarded to Rauma Marine Constructions Oy of Rauma, Finland, Bollinger Shipyards LLC of Lockport, La., and Davie Defense Inc. of Vienna, Va.
The work follows appropriation of $3.5 billion in the fiscal Year 2025 Reconciliation Bill and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Finland in October 2025.
Under this MOU, Finland will construct up to four ASCs for the U.S Coast Guard. U.S. shipyards will build and deliver up to seven additional ASCs. Delivery of the first Arctic Security Cutters is anticipated by the end of 2028.
Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both R-Alaska, have been pursuing funds for the new icebreakers for years. Now, Sullivan said, "we're getting them done," eventually giving Alaska three icebreakers homeported in Alaska. Historic provisions secured in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act made this a reality, he said.
"This news marks a turning point in America's investment in the Arctic and will allow us to reassert our influence in the region - enhancing maritime commerce, strengthening cooperation with our allies, increasing deterrence against our adversaries, and ensuring our military can respond to emergencies in any environment," Murkowski said.
