Coast Guard awards contracts to build Arctic Security Cutters

United States Coast Guard News (.mil)•December 29, 2025•nation

Key Points:

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded contracts to Rauma Marine Constructions (Finland) and Bollinger Shipyards (Louisiana) to build up to six Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) icebreakers, enhancing America’s Arctic maritime capabilities.
These cutters will protect U.S. sovereignty, secure shipping lanes, safeguard energy and mineral resources, and counter adversaries in the Arctic region, supporting national security and economic interests.
The first Finnish-built cutter is expected by 2028, with the first U.S.-built vessel slated for delivery in 2029, leveraging Finnish expertise while developing domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
The acquisition aligns with the Coast Guard’s Force Design 2028 initiative, aimed at modernizing and transforming