The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved the full production phase of the Polar Security Cutter Hull 1, the first U.S.-built heavy polar icebreaker in nearly fifty years. In parallel, the Coast Guard received the green light to begin initial fabrication of the Waterways Commerce Cutter program, focused on riverine vessels essential for domestic commerce. essential for domestic commerce.
Polar icebreaker strengthens U.S. presence in the Arctic
This double breakthrough marks a decisive step in the modernization of the national maritime fleet. Bollinger Shipyards, in charge of the construction, will accelerate procurement and processes to deliver these strategic units, strengthening control in arctic areas and optimizing commercial transport in inland waterways.
The Polar Security Cutter represents a crucial component of the U.S. presence in the Arctic. Built with special cold-resistant steel and reinforced compartmentalization, it is designed to operate in extreme conditions. The technical complexity and backlog accumulated in previous years have been offset by recent investments and reorganization of the program under national leadership.
WCC modernizes U.S. inland fleet
The WCC program includes the construction of 16 WLR and 11 WLIC vessels, both of which will be used for the maintenance and operation of river infrastructures. These units will renew an aging fleet that is key to the economy, since they support the transportation of goods valued at more than US$5.4 billion annually.
The first units are scheduled for delivery in fiscal year 2027. The third variant of the program, the river buoy launch, will be contracted separately.
For more than two centuries, the Coast Guard has been a strategic pillar of maritime security. maritime security the nation’s maritime security. With these new programs, the Service reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, defense and governance of maritime spaces, from the heart of inland trade routes to the icy reaches of the Arctic.
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Source and photo: U. S. Department of Homeland Security.
