Icebreakers – Professional Mariner

13 Nov

U.S., Canada, Finland sign deal to develop polar icebreakers

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, shipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Officials representing the governments of the United States, Canada and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday to begin working together to develop world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers through the exchange of knowledge, information and resources. The landmark agreement builds off the launch of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, President…

03 Oct

Healy heads back to Arctic after engine room fire

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy (WAGB 20) departed Seattle on Tuesday, beginning a months-long Arctic deployment. Healy’s earlier science mission was cut short due to an onboard electrical fire. Healy returned to Seattle for an inspection and repairs. The crew will support scientists conducting three distinct science missions during Healy’s fall 2024 Arctic deployment. Other science of…

29 Aug

Polar Star returns to Seattle after stint in dry dock

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, shipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew returned to Seattle on Sunday after 285 days away from their home port. Following a 138-day deployment to Antarctica supporting Operation Deep Freeze 2024, Polar Star reported directly to Mare Island Dry Dock (MIDD) in Vallejo, Calif., to commence the fourth phase of a five-year Service Life…

22 Aug

CBO: Cost of heavy icebreakers could jump 60 percent

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, shipbuilding

(WASHINGTON) — On April 23, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded a contract to VT Halter Marine to build the first of a class of new heavy polar icebreakers, called the polar security cutter (PSC). The service plans to name the first ship Polar Sentinel. On Dec. 29, 2021, the Coast Guard exercised an option under that contract to have…

14 Aug

Coast Guard to home-port icebreaker Aiviq in Juneau

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(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…

05 Aug

Canada’s Davie plans to invest in U.S. shipbuilding

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, Security, shipbuilding

(LEVIS, Quebec) — Davie, Canada's largest shipbuilder, has announced its intention to make a significant, long-term commitment to the American shipbuilding industry. Pending final site and partner selection, the commitment would include a major investment in a U.S. shipyard. Davie’s decision coincides with a series of actions announced by the U.S. government to boost the efficiency, resilience and competitiveness of…

12 Jul

U.S., Canada, Finland to partner on polar icebreakers

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, Security, shipbuilding

(WASHINGTON) — The leaders of the United States, Canada and Finland on Thursday announced their intent to create the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, which is a trilateral arrangement to collaborate on the production of polar icebreakers and other capabilities, alongside United States’ allies and partners, labor and industry. This collaboration is intended to strengthen the shipbuilding industry and…

27 Mar

Davie wins design contract for Canada’s new icebreakers

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, shipbuilding

(LEVIS, Quebec) — Chantier Davie Canada announced Monday that it has been awarded its first National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) contract by the government of Canada for the design of the six-ship fleet of the nation’s future program icebreakers. This milestone marks the beginning of Davie’s NSS work package to replenish Canada’s Arctic fleet. Each initiative under the contract will help…

04 Mar

Congress finalizes funds for key Great Lakes interests

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Icebreakers, Ports, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — Five months after the beginning of the fiscal year, Congress unveiled its final spending plan for a handful of government agencies Sunday. These include programs of critical importance to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway maritime industry. How did we get here? As a reminder, the federal fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30 of…

09 Feb

Seaspan completes ‘prototype block’ for new icebreaker

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, shipbuilding

(NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia) — Seaspan Shipyards has successfully completed construction of the "prototype block" for the Canadian Coast Guard’s polar icebreaker program. Construction of the block ensures that Seaspan has the proper processes, procedures, equipment and skills necessary to build the first heavy polar icebreaker in Canada in more than 60 years. Seaspan developed and built the prototype block…