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Arctic Bound: Coast Guard Welcomes New Icebreaker CGC Storis

Maggie Johnson

By Maggie Johnson

January 8, 2025


Image Credit: Available at Pixabay. (01/08/2025).

The U.S. Coast Guard has officially welcomed the icebreaking offshore supply vessel Aiviq into its fleet, rechristening it CGC Storis. The name Storis is a tribute to the original USCGC Storis, a legendary icebreaker that served from 1942 to 2007. This addition marks the service’s first new polar icebreaker in over 25 years.

“The Coast Guard is thrilled to acquire this icebreaker,” said Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan. “This acquisition is vital in increasing our operational presence in the Arctic.”

Under a $125 million fixed-price contract with Offshore Service Vessels LLC, a division of Edison Chouest Offshore, the agreement covers the vessel’s delivery, reactivation, certification, and modifications. It also includes crew training, spare parts, and sea trials to ensure the vessel’s readiness for service.

While the U.S. Coast Guard has not specified a completion timeline for the modifications, Congressional testimony in December 2024 revealed plans for the Storis to embark on its first Arctic patrol in 2026. Crew selection will commence in the summer of 2025, involving about 60 officers and enlisted personnel.

“The future Coast Guard Cutter Storis builds on our legacy of Arctic operations and underscores our commitment to asserting U.S. sovereignty and supporting national security in the region,” Adm. Fagan added.

Currently undergoing modifications at Tampa Ship LLC in Florida, the vessel’s upgrades have so far focused on hull repainting and structural enhancements to meet the rigorous demands of Arctic operations. Originally built in 2012 for Shell’s offshore oil exploration in Alaska, the Storis is significantly newer than the Coast Guard’s existing icebreakers, Healy (1997) and Polar Star (1973).

The Storis, with its Polar Class 3-equivalent ice certification, offers capabilities comparable to the medium icebreaker Healy. This underscores the Coast Guard's commitment to maintaining a high level of operational readiness. Simultaneously, construction is underway at Bollinger Shipbuilding in Mississippi on the Coast Guard’s first new heavy icebreaker in 50 years, the Polar Security Cutter. Spanning 85 modules, its construction is expected to finish by 2030, with the first 16 modules already authorized.

This advancement is part of a broader, strategic plan to secure eight to nine polar icebreakers. This plan is designed to address the increasing demands in the Arctic and to counter the intensified Russian and Chinese activity, ensuring the Coast Guard's long-term preparedness and effectiveness in the region.

In 2024 alone, Russia and China collectively launched or commissioned nine icebreakers and conducted their first joint Arctic patrol near Alaska’s Bering Strait.

“We face a growing national security challenge from competitors working together in unprecedented ways,” said Vice Adm. Peter Gautier, Deputy Commandant for Operations. This challenge underscores the urgent need for the Coast Guard's enhanced capabilities and strategic planning in the Arctic region.

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