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Congress approves more US icebreakers
Statute approves funding for construction of a second Coast Guard icebreaker, contracts for eventual construction of six vessels Alan Bailey for Petroleum News
The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, recently passed by Congress, includes provisions to continue the construction of new Coast Guard icebreakers, referred to as polar security cutters. In 2018 Congress approved the eventual construction of six polar-class icebreakers, and in 2019 approved funding for the construction of the first of the vessels. Currently the Coast Guard only operates two polar capable icebreakers: the Healy, a medium duty icebreaker, much used as a base for polar research, and the Polar Star, which is a heavy icebreaker but is nearing the end of its operational life.
The icebreaker construction program comes in the context of Coast Guard concerns regarding its technical capability to fully conduct its role in a dynamic Arctic region.
Statute provisions The new legislation authorizes $745 million for the construction of a second icebreaker, while maintaining the existing contract for the first three of the new icebreakers and authorizing the award of contracts for the construction of the remaining three icebreakers, according to a press release from U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, a co-author of the legislation. Construction of the first of the icebreakers is expected to start in 2021. Sullivan has been a strong advocate for icebreaker construction.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has also been an ardent supporter of the icebreaker program.
“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have worked aggressively to help secure a robust fleet of polar security cutters to meet our nation’s needs in the Arctic, to protect our interests in the region, and to strengthen our national security,” Murkowski said in a Dec. 13 release. “I’m proud of the progress that we have made to help the U.S. strengthen its capacity and presence in the Arctic as other Arctic and non-Arctic nations expand theirs.”
Center for Arctic security studies The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act came as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The National Defense Authorization Act also includes a provision to form the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the first Department of Defense regional center in the Arctic. The center will support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a “unique academic forum,” while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders, according to a release by the Alaska Congressional Delegation. The specific location of the center has yet to be determined.
“My friend, our late Sen. Ted Stevens, was not only a steadfast advocate for Alaska, but he also fully recognized the strategic importance of the Arctic to America's national security,” said Congressman Don Young. “Establishing the Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies has been one of my highest priorities, and I am proud that our delegation has always fought for its creation.”
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