U.S. Coast Guard Awards Contracts for Eleven Arctic Security Cutters
The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded contracts to Davie Defense, Bollinger, and Rauma Marine Constructions for delivery of eleven Artic Security Cutters (of two different designs/variants).
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From a February 11th U.S. Coast Guard press release:
The U.S. Coast Guard announced today 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 contract awarded today builds on previous awards announced Dec 29, 2025, and delivers the 11 Arctic Security Cutters directed by the President. Together, these cutters will form the backbone of a revitalized U.S. icebreaker fleet, protecting U.S. sovereignty and dominance in the Arctic.
“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.”
Delivery of the first Arctic Security Cutter is expected in early 2028.
Acquisition of Arctic Security Cutters supports the Coast Guard’s modernization under Force Design 2028, transforming the Service into a more agile, capable and responsive fighting force.
As there were three separate contracts signed between Christmas and Valentine’s Day for two different Artic Security Cutter (ASC) designs (called variants1 by the U.S. Coast Guard), I thought I would consolidate the information for reference and ease of use. Here you go:
Davie Defense (Davie variant, five ASCs):
From Davie Defense’s February 11th press release:
Washington D.C. | February 10, 2026 – American shipbuilder, Davie Defense, has been awarded a contract from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to build five Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs), a new class of polar icebreaker critical to increasing U.S. presence in the Arctic.
As part of the program of up to 11 total ASCs, authorized by the Presidential Memorandum “Construction of Arctic Security Cutters,” two ASCs will be constructed in Finland at Davie Defense’s sister facility, Helsinki Shipyard. Building in Finland ensures the shipbuilder can meet the USCG’s accelerated schedule to deliver the first ASC in 2028. American shipbuilders will work and learn 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’s ASC design is based on a proven platform with seven previous variants delivered from Helsinki Shipyard. These variants are all in service today.
According to SAM.gov, the Firm Fixed Price contract for these five ships totals $3.5 billion ($700 million per vessel).
Bollinger Shipyards (MPI Variant, four ASCs):
From Bollinger Shipyard’s December 29th press release:
Bollinger Shipyards (“Bollinger”) today announced it has signed a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard for the construction of four Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs), a new class of medium polar icebreakers that will expand America’s operational presence in the Arctic.
The contract formalizes Bollinger’s leading role in the historic U.S.–Finland collaboration announced earlier this fall by the White House. Bollinger will construct ASCs based on the Multi-Purpose Icebreaker design by Seaspan Shipyards of Vancouver, Canada, developed with Aker Arctic Technology Inc of Helsinki, Finland. To support the objectives of the White House, Bollinger has worked in close partnership with Rauma Marine Construction Oy, a Finnish shipyard, to ensure that the US receives these icebreaking capabilities as rapidly as possible.
Work on the four Bollinger-built ASCs will be based at its shipyard in Houma, Louisiana. Construction of the ASCs will be supported by the company’s workforce at multiple facilities across America’s Gulf Coast to meet the aggressive schedule set forth by President Trump.
According to SAM.gov, the Firm Fixed Price contract for these four ships totals $2.143 billion ($540 million per vessel).
Rauma Marine Constructions (MPI Variant, two ASCs):
From Rauma Marine Constructions’ (RMC) December 29th press release:
Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the United States Coast Guard (U.S. Coast Guard) for the construction of two Arctic Security Cutters (ASC). The contract will deliver the first two ASCs , as part of the historic agreement between the United States and Finland to accelerate delivery of icebreakers to the U.S. Coast Guard. Construction of the vessels will begin immediately.
Award underscores Finland’s leadership in icebreaker construction and RMC’s ability to accelerate delivery of critical Arctic capability.
The icebreakers will be built at the Rauma shipyard and will be completed in 2028. Satakunta University of Applied Sciences is participating in the project as a training partner.
RMC’s role is central in the ASC program which emphasizes schedule certainty, low technical risk, and the use of a mature, production-ready design to meet the Coast Guard’s urgent operational requirements. Under the award, RMC will construct the first two Arctic Security Cutters based on the proven Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) design developed by Seaspan Shipyards in collaboration with Aker Arctic Technology. The vessels will be built in cooperation with the U.S. shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards.
According to SAM.gov, the Firm Fixed Price contract for these two ships totals $1.23 billion ($561 million per vessel).
Two Different Variants
The U.S. Coast Guard is referring to the differing designs as ASC variants, similar to how the U.S. Navy refers to the two Littoral Combat Ship designs as the Freedom and Independence variants. Technically, they should be different classes, but we will use the U.S. Coast Guard’s terminology. Here is a look at the specifications of what I am calling the Davie and MPI ASC variants:
Davie Variant
Davie Defense helpfully included this graphic in its media kit:
For more information, check out my earlier article on the Davie/Helsinki Shipyard design.
MPI Variant:
Bollinger and RMC both referenced using the Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) design, but neither provided details in their press release. Seaspan Shipyards, of Vancouver Canada, did provide some information via e-mail accompanying its January 7th press release:
I previously wrote about the MPI design in my article concerning Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. See here.
A note on the design information
These and other previously listed parameters (including those in my articles) might not represent the final design. For example, the complement changed (from 50 to 85) between the Canadian MPI design and Seaspan’s press release about their Arctic Security Cutter MPI variant. Other such changes may be coming.
Thoughts and Comments:
I’ve been advocating for this general approach for years: build icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard in Finland, in partnership with U.S. shipyards.
I am confident that this approach will deliver much needed icebreakers in a timely manner while supporting investment and growth in the U.S. Maritime Industrial Base.
As I wrote last week, I now work for Davie Group, based out of Helsinki Shipyard. I look forward to working with my colleagues in shipbuilding and the U.S. Coast Guard to help make this project a success.
More to follow.
All the Best,
PGR
Further reading:
I would call them two different classes, but the U.S. Coast Guard appears to be following the Navy’s lead and calling them variants. (As in the two LCS variants).
I find it interesting theyre "variants" and not classes like you point out. Maybe Im just opposed because of how the LCS's to turned out.
Either way thank you for the update. I really appreciate it as always, as this is my sole source for this type of news. Thank you!
Thanks for this comprehensive summary of news spanning a few months, Peter.
Few people appreciate what this will mean to the men, women, and communities in the US and Suomi where these contracts will be laid n launched. Makes me warm n fuzzy to think about it.
How crucial is your role in trying to teach people about the nature and importance of this complex, far-reaching, CRUCIAL topic! It's way too much for anyone to keep track of from the inside, never mind outside, of the sector/industry.
Sometimes just even talking about it has impacts we can't imagine--getting it on the brain-docket of people with no concept. Your information makes it easier to pass along crucial details in the day to day (sort of the "agenda setting" function). Just--thanks.