(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday that it will home-port Aiviq, a commercially procured icebreaker, in Juneau, Alaska.
The Coast Guard is acquiring the U.S.-registered ship, originally built to serve as an Arctic oil exploration support vessel, following modification. The vessel has icebreaking capability sufficient to serve as a Coast Guard medium polar icebreaker.
“The United States is an Arctic nation, and the Coast Guard is vital to providing presence in our sovereign waters and the polar regions,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, Coast Guard vice commandant. “As we continue to build the polar security cutters, acquiring a commercially available polar icebreaker will enable the Coast Guard to increase our national presence in the Arctic, and home-porting this cutter in Alaska demonstrates the service’s steadfast commitment to the region.”
The Coast Guard was appropriated $125 million in fiscal year 2024 to purchase a commercially available icebreaker. Currently, Aiviq is the only U.S.-built commercial vessel meeting necessary icebreaking standards. The service anticipates the vessel will reach initial operational capability in two years.
The Coast Guard has been the sole provider of America’s polar icebreaking capability since 1965 and is seeking to increase its icebreaking fleet with new polar security cutters. The Coast Guard currently operates two polar icebreakers: the cutter Healy, a medium polar icebreaker, and the cutter Polar Star, the only U.S. heavy polar icebreaker.
– U.S. Coast Guard
