U.S. Coast Guard Awards Arctic Security Cutter Contracts to Davie Defense, Closing Out 11-Ship Program

Updated: February 12, 2026 (Originally published February 11, 2026)

Davie Defense will build two Arctic Security Cutters at Helsinki Shipyard and three in Texas, completing Coast Guard awards for 11 new medium polar icebreakers under the ICE Pact framework.

The U.S. Coast Guard has completed contract awards for 11 Arctic Security Cutters, closing out Donald Trump’s directive to rapidly expand America’s icebreaker fleet as competition intensifies in the High North.

The latest contract, announced today, calls for construction of up to five Arctic Security Cutters by Davie Defense, bringing the President’s initial order to completion and marking what officials are calling a historic milestone in U.S. Arctic capability.

Under the arrangement, Davie Defense will construct two Arctic Security Cutters at its sister facility, Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, and three in the U.S. at the company’s facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas. The contract builds on a previous awards to Bollinger Shipyards and Rauma Marine Constructions of Finland announced in late December, which established a joint U.S.-Finland production framework designed to deliver vessels on an accelerated timeline.

“America has been an Arctic nation for over 150 years, and we’re finally acting like it under President Trump,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “Our adversaries continue to look to grow their presence in the Arctic, equipping the Coast Guard with Arctic Security Cutters will help reassert American maritime dominance there. Revitalizing the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking capabilities is crucial for our security and prosperity, and today’s announcement is an important step in that direction.”

The Arctic Security Cutters will defend U.S. sovereignty, secure critical shipping lanes, protect energy and mineral resources, and counter foreign malign influence in the Arctic region. A robust icebreaker fleet will enable the Coast Guard to control, secure and defend U.S. Alaskan borders and Arctic maritime approaches, facilitate maritime commerce vital to economic prosperity and strategic mobility, and respond to crises and contingencies in the region.

Delivery of the first Arctic Security Cutter is expected in early 2028.

Unprecedented International Collaboration

The program represents an unprecedented shipbuilding partnership spanning three nations. The December 29 contracts awarded agreements to Rauma Marine Constructions of Finland to build up to two vessels, with the first expected in 2028, while Bollinger Shipyards will construct up to four cutters domestically in Louisiana with the first U.S.-built vessel slated for 2029.

The contracts stem from the ICE Pact, a trilateral framework between the United States, Canada, and Finland signed in July 2024 to accelerate icebreaker production in response to Russian and Chinese activities in Arctic regions.

“Awarding these contracts ensures the United States maintains its leadership as a maritime power in the Arctic,” said Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard. “Accelerating construction of these cutters will enable the Coast Guard to defend our northern border and approaches, while strengthening domestic shipbuilding and reinforcing the nation’s industrial base.”

Two Designs, One Mission

The 11-ship program will employ two distinct designs. The Bollinger and Rauma vessels will be based on Canada’s Seaspan Shipyards’ production-ready Multi-Purpose Icebreaker design, developed in partnership with Finland’s Aker Arctic Technology under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.

The Polar Class 4 MPI design is capable of breaking through four feet of ice at up to four knots, sailing more than 12,000 nautical miles, and remaining deployed for over 60 days. Each 328-foot vessel will displace about 9,000 tons, powered by a diesel-electric plant with variable-speed DC-bus propulsion delivering roughly 7,200 kW. The cutters will carry a crew of about 85 and meet Lloyd’s Polar Class PC4 standards, enabling missions ranging from national defense and maritime sovereignty to scientific research and search and rescue across the Arctic year-round.

Davie’s ASC design is based on a different proven platform, with seven previous variants delivered from Helsinki Shipyard already in service today.

“We’re deeply honored by this vote of confidence,” said Kai Skvarla, Chief Executive Officer of Davie Defense. “We can’t wait to get started on delivering mission-ready cutters to our valued U.S. Coast Guard partner. By anchoring construction in Texas, while drawing on Helsinki Shipyard’s proven icebreaker expertise, we can deliver the ASCs to meet the Coast Guard’s operational needs in the world’s harshest environments.”

Texas Emerges as Icebreaker Hub

Building in Finland ensures the shipbuilder can meet the USCG’s accelerated schedule to deliver the first ASC in 2028, with American shipbuilders working and learning alongside Helsinki’s world-leading icebreaker builders. This will support the efficient all-American construction of three ASCs at Davie’s facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.

Davie Defense is the U.S. arm of INOCEA, a UK-owned maritime group with operations in Finland, Canada and the U.S. In 2025, INOCEA acquired Gulf Copper & Manufacturing’s shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur.

Davie Defense plans a $1 billion overhaul of the historic Gulf Copper shipyard in Galveston, Texas, aiming to create the “American Icebreaker Factory”—a purpose-built facility for constructing Arctic Security Cutters.

“Our focus is on disciplined execution for the U.S. Coast Guard—combining proven designs with Helsinki Shipyard’s world-leading expertise helping re-establish world-class shipbuilding capability in Texas, where we will deliver cutters on-time and on-budget,” said Alex Vicefield, Co-Founder of INOCEA Group.

Closing the Arctic Gap

The Coast Guard currently operates only three polar icebreakers: the heavy icebreaker Polar Star commissioned in 1976, the medium icebreaker Healy, and the Storis, a recently commissioned former commercial vessel.Coast Guard assessments indicate at least nine Arctic Security Cutters are needed to serve U.S. national security interests year-round in the Arctic.

The deal coincides with substantial funding under President Trump’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which includes nearly $9 billion allocated specifically for building a series of heavy, medium, and light Arctic Security Cutters.

The program represents part of Force Design 2028, an initiative introduced by Secretary Noem to transform the Coast Guard into a more agile, capable and responsive fighting force.

“The Arctic Security Cutter is one of the most consequential and time-sensitive shipbuilding programs in U.S. Coast Guard history,” said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “With clear direction from President Trump and an aggressive delivery timeline, our mission is straightforward: leverage the full strength of our shipbuilding facilities across the Gulf Coast, along with our proven partners, to deliver these cutters on schedule and mission ready on day one.”

The contract comes as Bollinger continues to construct the first Polar Security Cutter for the U.S. Coast Guard. Bollinger acquired the troubled three-vessel program from Singapore-based ST Engineering in 2022 through its acquisition of VT Halter Marine.

The program has faced substantial challenges, including schedule delays, cost overruns, and an incomplete concept design. President Trump’s appropriations bill provides $4.3 billion for the advanced procurement and construction of Polar Security Cutters two and three, fully funding the program through completion, with completion of the first PSC now anticipated by May 2030.

Updated Feb. 11, 2026: Added details of the Davie Defense award (2 hulls at Helsinki Shipyard, 3 in Texas) and confirmed the first-delivery target of early 2028.

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