U.S. to Partner with Canada and Finland to Fix Icebreaker Program and Shipbuilding

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) –

The U.S. intends to create an Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) with Canada and Finland to overcome challenges of producing the next generation polar icebreaker and strengthen the shipbuilding industrial sector generally.

The three key components of the effort will be the sharing of information, collaboration in workforce development, and construction of icebreakers for allies and partners.

“The governments of the United States, Canada, and Finland intend to leverage shipyards in the United States, Canada, and Finland to build polar icebreakers for their own use, as well as to work closely with like minded allies and partners to build and export polar icebreakers for their needs at speed and affordable cost,” the announcement reads. 

The U.S. icebreaker program has faced multi-year delays and substantial cost overruns with the latest estimates suggesting the Polar Security Cutter program coming in at three times the original 2019 baseline. 

Canada’s search for a new polar icebreaker has similarly been afflicted by years of uncertainty and extended timelines. The Canadian polar icebreaker program was launched in 2008, but following multiple delays construction has yet to start. 

Similar to its American counterpart, delivery of the first vessel is not expected until 2030 or 2031, at the earliest. Inflation and an increase in vessel size have led to substantial cost overruns.

In contrast, industry experts have long pointed to Finland’s long tradition of designing and constructing a range of icebreaker and icebreaking vessels. Highlighting the importance of the country’s expertise as part of this agreement one Finnish industry insider only half-jokingly remarked: “This really is a Finland-US-Canada deal.” 

The U.S. Coast Guard has seemingly been unable to exert sufficient oversight over its PSC program with construction at the Bollinger shipyard yet to begin 5 years after awarding of the initial contract. To close the gap until 2030 the Coast Guard is now looking to acquire commercial icebreaker Aiviq.

“It’s a great step in the right direction. I’m glad to see the White House taking an active role in tackling the U.S. icebreaker capacity problem,” explains Rebecca Pincus, Director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC.

The new initiative points to a general need to bolster U.S. shipbuilding capacity and program design. The Navy’s FFG 62 Frigate program faces challenges similar to the PSC, a recent hearing on Capitol Hill revealed.

Pincus commends the “high-level openness” of the White House to look for creative solutions in the sector.

“Shipbuilding is in trouble in the U.S., not just the Coast Guard, but Navy and commercial shipyards as well. This is a first step, and much more needs to be done, but it is timely and very promising,” concludes Pincus.

The new ICE program hopes to achieve cost savings through economies of scale through exports. 

“Shipyards focused on building polar icebreakers can reach the scale needed to reduce costs for allies and partners that need access to the polar regions,” the White House announcement states.

This aspect may at best be a long-term proposition as no U.S. yard has constructed a heavy icebreaker in nearly 50 years. 

Currently Bollinger yard is devising methods and training workers on how to process specific high-strength steel alloy called EQ47 used in the PSC, a sign of much needed workforce-development. 

In a sign of the ongoing challenges the PSC program faces, the White House announcement makes no mention of when Bollinger is expected to deliver the first PSC, simply stating: “The Louisiana-based shipbuilder will continue its effort to deliver new American-made icebreakers to the U.S. Coast Guard’s polar icebreaking fleet.”

The Coast Guard previously suggested it will be providing an updated timeline for the program later this year.