Page 44: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2018)

Image: Fincantieri Marine Group

Fincantieri Marine Group:

The Quest to Build Next-Gen USCG Icebreakers

As the U.S. Coast Guard moves to rebuild its icebreaker ? eet we spoke with RADM Bruce Baffer (Ret.), head of Fincantieri’s effort to win the contract to build the Polar Security Cutters.

By Greg Trauthwein

The case for the U.S. to build a new year you get those answers” of why the Antarctica, the need for a new ? eet of right team – designer, builder, out? tters class of icebreakers is strong. While U.S. needs to rebuild its ? eet of polar ice capable ships transcends this mission – is central to ensuring success. Baffer, news of global climate change and the icebreakers starting now, said Baffer, and is a matter of national security, ac- who notes Fincantieri’s global reach and shrinking ice caps at both poles is daily head of Fincantieri Marine Group’s ef- cording to Baffer. long history building icebreakers, does headline fodder, maritime navigation forts to win the Polar Security Cutter “Driving the program right now is na- not underplay the signi? cance of this in and around the Arctic and Antarctic contract. Even the term ‘rebuild’ the ice- tional sovereignty and competition for contract and is naturally biased for his remains one of the most dif? cult and breaker ? eet is somewhat of a misnomer, resources – economic resources – in the team’s approach.

dangerous operating arenas on the high as there’s not much to the ‘? eet’ today, Arctic,” said Baffer, part of the reason “This is going to be the heavy ice- seas. There is increasing commercial as Baffer knows all too well. “My last the icebreaker program was re-branded breaker of the Western world; this will ship traf? c in the North, from tankers job was to keep Polar Star running, and as the Polar Security Cutter. With both be the ? agship, and Fincantieri has built to cruise vessels, as well as a vast yet we spent all summer putting it back to- Russia and China increasing their pres- a lot of icebreakers,” said Baffer. still fully unde? ned quantity of natural gether,” following its annual trek to Ant- ence in the region, to put it simply there There is obvious interest among the resources to potentially be discovered arctica to resupply McMurdo. “When is a need for ‘presence’ lest the U.S. cede Coast Guard, ship design, ship building and recovered. But make no mistake, the (Polar Star) is down to McMurdo, every its interest in a northern border, ironic and ship out? tting communities to get driver for the U.S. to build its ? rst heavy night would be a whole new adventure in at a time when political focus is keenly the Polar Security Cutter project in mo- icebreakers in more than 40 years is a damage control, and they spend all night trained on border control. tion, and as U.S. Coast Guard Comman- matter of political interests and defense. putting it back together. They get it done There is economic and political in- dant Admiral Karl Schultz notes in his

It is no secret that Russia holds a com- because that’s what Coasties do. But it’s terests in the Arctic’s natural resources, interview starting on page 46, the num- manding lead operating in the region, just a matter of time. It’s not ‘if’ it is go- as well as a burgeoning eco tourism in- bers attached to the program are 6-3-1 with a ? eet of icebreakers approaching ing to break down in the ice, it’s a matter dustry that is blossoming, including the … six ships altogether, three ‘heavy’ ice- 50. In the last decade, China too has in- of ‘when.’ And we don’t have a second world’s ? rst icebreaking cruise ship on breakers and perhaps most importantly, creased its activities in the region. At the icebreaker ready to go get it.” order for France’s Ponant. one now given the condition of the Polar same time, U.S. presence in the region Star.

has dwindled . A Matter of National Security A Matter of Experience The technical proposals have been “All you have to do is Google “Po- While Polar Star’s primary mission is Since the U.S. last built an icebreak- submitted, the cost proposals were being lar Star and Deep Freeze” and every the resupply of the McMurdo Station in er more than 40 years ago, ? nding the submitted at press time, and according to 44 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2018

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