By Maggie Johnson, December 9, 2024
The U.S. Coast Guard has officially awarded a contract to acquire the Edison Chouest Offshore icebreaking vessel Aiviq. On November 20, the Coast Guard Acquisitions Directorate announced it had contracted Offshore Service Vessels, LLC of Cut Off, Louisiana, to acquire a commercially available polar icebreaker, enhancing mission readiness in the polar regions. The firm-fixed-price contract, valued at $125 million, covers the delivery and reactivation of the M/V Aiviq, a 360-foot U.S.-built polar class 3-equivalent icebreaker. The agreement also includes provisions for technical data, spare parts, necessary modifications, certifications, crew training, and operational readiness activities.
This acquisition demonstrates the Coast Guard’s commitment to strengthening its operational presence in the Arctic while awaiting the delivery of the polar security cutter (PSC) class. With minimal modifications, the Aiviq will be capable of supporting U.S. sovereignty in the Arctic and performing specific Coast Guard missions. The service will assess the vessel’s current condition and capabilities to determine the necessary steps to reach full operational readiness.
Plans for the Aiviq’s future operations are already in motion. The vessel is set to be permanently homeported in Juneau, Alaska, with infrastructure upgrades planned to support its operations. In the interim, the Coast Guard is evaluating temporary homeporting options to ensure the vessel’s seamless integration into its operations.
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