By suzanne downing 
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum last week directing the construction of up to four new Arctic Security Cutters, citing an “urgent and growing threat” in the Arctic region from foreign adversaries.
The order is Trump’s fulfillment of his promise to expand America’s Arctic capabilities, acknowledging that the Coast Guard’s aging and undersized icebreaker fleet presents a national security risk. The US currently has only one heavy-duty icebreaker, the Polar Star.
“The United States faces an urgent and growing threat in the Arctic region posed by strategic competition, aggressive military posturing, and economic encroachment by foreign adversaries,” the memorandum states. These actions, Trump said, “undermine United States sovereignty; jeopardize critical shipping lanes; and threaten energy, mineral, and national defense interests.”
Under the directive, the Department of Homeland Security, working through the Coast Guard, must deliver a plan within 60 days to phase construction of the Arctic Security Cutters in foreign shipyards. The goal is to “on-shore” expertise over time, eventually enabling US shipyards to scale up in order to build future vessels domestically.
The memorandum authorizes the partial construction of up to four cutters outside the United States, under domestic supervision, citing national security authorities under 14 USC 1151(b) and 10 USC 8679(b). Trump framed the move as a temporary measure to “bridge a critical capability gap” until the domestic industrial base can meet demand.
Trump announced the selection of Bollinger Shipyards, in partnership with Rauma Marine Constructions of Finland, Seaspan Shipyards of Canada, and Aker Arctic Technology Inc., to design and construct six new arctic security cutters for the United States Coast Guard.
The Bollinger-led team will use the multi-purpose icebreaker design developed by Seaspan and Aker Arctic. It’s an advanced, production-ready platform already proven for allied missions in extreme polar environments.
“Today’s award is a testament to President Trump’s leadership and his historic investment in America’s maritime industrial base,” said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards in a statement. “We appreciate the trust President Trump has placed in the skilled men and women of Bollinger Shipyards and stand ready to begin construction on these critical vessels on day one. The Arctic Security Cutter will enable the United States to rapidly project American power, enforce our sovereignty, and reassert American dominance in the Arctic.”
Under the agreement, the first three vessels will be built simultaneously by Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland and Bollinger Shipyards in the United States, with the remaining three to be constructed entirely in the US.
Delivery of the first three ships is expected within 36 months of the contract award.
“This memorandum shall not preclude continued investment in the United States industrial base or future domestic construction of ASCs,” it reads. “Rather, it is a time-limited measure.”
The authorization will automatically expire four years from its signing unless extended or terminated earlier by the president.
The move reflects concern over Russia and China’s military and commercial activity in the Arctic, where melting ice is opening new sea routes and access to critical resources. The decision also builds on prior efforts to expand the Coast Guard’s icebreaking fleet, which currently relies heavily on the 48-year-old Polar Star.
SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR