Page 19: of Marine News Magazine (March 2026)

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Feature

U.S. Shipbuilding

In December of 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the award of two contracts to build up to six Arctic Se- curity Cutter (ASC) icebreakers. The announcement declaring the vessels would be built between the United

States and Finland in a major step forward for America’s

OW A U.S national security in the Arctic region. The decision process encompassed more than the security of the Arctic passage.

It announces a major shift in the U.S. Shipbuilding pro- cess. A second round of contracts were approved Febru-

ERMOSTAT ary 11, 2026 involving Davie in Canada and its recently purchased shipyard facility in Port Arthur, Texas under a similar agreement and process.

The initial contracts were awarded to Rauma Marine Con- structions Oy of Rauma, Finland, and Bollinger Shipyards and are the result of the Federal Administration’s collabora- tion with Finland. The “foreign” built deliveries will prove to be an historic move in reestablishing U.S. shipbuilding. The recent Maritime Action Plan (MAP) describes the “allied” construction partnerships as a “Bridge Strategy.” ICEPACT

LET’S already includes plans with Japan and Korea.

The contract with Rauma Marine Constructions Oy in- cludes up to two ASCs to be built in Finland, with deliv- ery of the ? rst vessel expected in 2028. The contract with

Bollinger Shipyards includes up to four ASCs to be built in the United States, with delivery of the ? rst domestically

TURN built cutter expected in 2029. Rauma designs roughly 80% of worldwide icebreakers and builds approximately 60% of international breaker tonnage. The collaboration between the two yards is designed to take immediate advantage of

Finland’s icebreaker expertise while coordinating the fol-

UP THE low-on construction in the United States with a solid sup- ply chain. More importantly it meets 2028 timing to place

U.S. breakers in the water and NATO’s “Arctic Sentry” in- creased military presence of NATO allies in the region.

The contract process goes beyond National Security and reaches into the current U.S Shipbuilding debate. Where

HEAT historical U.S. construction begins prior to completing a full production design, this program allows the domestic icebreakers to be built from a fully completed and mod- eled design package with the capability of U.S. Vessel Con- struction Managers attending during the construction. A cooperative educational experience and again corrective actions discussed in the MAP.

As our domestic industry highlights the urgent need for www.marinelink.com MN www.marinelink.com MN 1919||