USCGC Storis: A Look at America’s Newest Arctic Icebreaker

The U.S. Coast Guard officially commissioned the USCGC Storis (WAGB 21) in Juneau, Alaska on August 10, marking a significant addition to America’s icebreaker fleet amid growing Russian and Chinese activity in Arctic waters.

The vessel, formerly the motor vessel Aiviq, was acquired on December 20, 2024, and underwent modifications to enhance its communication and defense capabilities before being renamed Storis. This marks the second vessel in Coast Guard history to bear the name, with the original “Galloping Ghost of the Alaskan Coast” having served 64 years of icebreaking operations in the Arctic.

“The commissioning of Storis marks a new beginning for the U.S. Coast Guard,” said Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Troy Edgar. “President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill has recapitalized USCG with $25 billion – the largest single investment in the Coast Guard.”

Storis is the Coast Guard’s first polar icebreaker acquired in over 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Arctic while supporting Coast Guard missions as the service awaits delivery of the new Polar Security Cutter class.

Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the Coast Guard, emphasized the vessel’s strategic importance: “USCGC Storis immediately strengthens our ability to control, secure, and defend the U.S. border around Alaska and maritime approaches in the Arctic. Storis is the first step of a historic investment in the Coast Guard to add critical capacity to our polar icebreaker fleet to protect U.S. sovereignty and counter malign influence throughout the Arctic”.

The timing is particularly significant as the Coast Guard is currently monitoring five Chinese research vessels operating in or near U.S. Arctic waters. This follows a pattern of increasing Chinese activity in the region, including last year’s three Chinese vessels conducting research operations north of the Bering Strait and the first-ever joint Chinese-Russian coast guard Arctic patrol in October 2024.

The 360-foot, 4,129 dwt Storis is approximately two-thirds the size of the Coast Guard’s medium icebreaker Healy. Classified as a polar class 3-equivalent vessel, it can break through one meter of ice continuously at five knots. The vessel was originally built for Shell’s Arctic drilling operations in 2012.

Following the commissioning ceremony, Storis is departing immediately on patrol in the Coast Guard Arctic District area of operations. The vessel will be temporarily based in Seattle alongside the Service’s two other polar icebreakers until necessary infrastructure improvements are completed in Juneau.

The acquisition of Storis is part of broader Coast Guard fleet modernization efforts funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes $4.3 billion for Polar Security Cutters, $3.5 billion for Arctic Security Cutters, and $816 million for light and medium domestic icebreaking cutters.

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