Icebreakers – Professional Mariner

27 Jul

Healy to undergo major repairs after ‘significant’ breakdown

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, Icebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy experienced a significant engineering casualty while operating northwest of Port Angeles, Wash. There were no reported injuries. On July 13, tugboats safely towed Healy back to home port for an investigation into the incident and to undergo major repairs. “The crew of Coast Guard cutter Healy acted with speed and skill in responding…

12 Jun

Kodiak, Seward to home-port first Arctic security cutters

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard announced it will home-port its first two Arctic security cutters (ASCs) in Kodiak, Alaska, with a third ASC home-ported in Seward when the infrastructure is ready. This follows April’s announcement that the service would home-port its first two ASCs in Alaska. With the first delivery expected in 2028, the Coast Guard is accelerating preparations…

18 May

New Coast Guard icebreaker completes Bering Sea mission

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard’s newest polar icebreaker, USCGC Storis (WAGB 21), returned to their temporary Seattle home port Monday after a 36-day deployment to the Bering Sea. The patrol focused on advancing operational readiness, strengthening interoperability with other military assets and testing new concepts to support prolonged operations in one of the world’s most demanding…

21 Apr

‘Warm embrace’: Polar Star back home after Antarctic mission

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — The crew aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) returned home to Seattle on April 13 following a 146-day Antarctic deployment in support of Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) 2026. Polar Star departed Seattle on Nov. 20, traveling more than 20,000 nautical miles through ocean and ice to complete ODF 2026. ODF is the federal logistical…

16 Apr

First Arctic security cutters to be home-ported in Alaska

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday that the first two Arctic security cutters (ASCs) will be home-ported in Alaska. Anticipating delivery of the first new cutters by the end of 2028, the Coast Guard has begun planning to ensure necessary infrastructure and support are in place to receive two icebreakers. “Home-porting these two Arctic security cutters in Alaska…

26 Mar

Icebreaker gap brings U.S. Great Lakes fleet to standstill

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

(CLEVELAND) — A little over a day and half since the Soo Locks opened, providing access to Lake Superior and critical raw materials like iron ore, the U.S.-flagged Great Lakes commercial fleet is at a standstill in the St. Marys River and Whitefish Bay, the critical connection between Lake Superior and all other Great Lakes. The only way into Lake…

12 Mar

Polar Star completes ‘landmark’ mission to Antarctica

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(SOUTHERN OCEAN) — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) departed McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, on March 1 after operating for 55 days below the Antarctic Circle and traveling 14,000 miles in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2026. The cutter marked its 50th year of commissioned service on Jan. 17 while breaking free a cruise ship trapped in pack…

11 Feb

Davie gets Coast Guard order for five Arctic security cutters

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday it has completed the award of contracts for 11 Arctic security cutters, fulfilling President Trump’s directive to rapidly expand America’s icebreaker fleet. The latest award is for construction of up to five Arctic security cutters, bringing the president’s initial order to completion and marking a historic milestone in U.S. Arctic capability. The…

23 Jan

Polar Star marks 50 years by freeing cruise ship from ice

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(SOUTHERN OCEAN) — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star began icebreaking operations in the Southern Ocean in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2026 and marked its 50th year of commissioned service Saturday by freeing and escorting a cruise ship trapped in pack ice. The Australian-owned cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II contacted Polar Star at approximately 11 p.m. local time…

29 Dec

Bollinger gets contract for up to four Arctic security cutters

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday announced the award of two contracts to build up to six Arctic security cutters (ASCs), ships designed to break through and navigate ice-covered waters. Contracts were awarded to Rauma Marine Constructions of Rauma, Finland, and Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La. The Arctic security cutters will defend U.S. sovereignty, secure critical shipping lanes,…