Seaspan design chosen for U.S. Coast Guard Arctic icebreakers

The U.S. Coast Guard will use Seaspan's Canadian Multi-Purpose Icebreaker design for up to six Arctic Security Cutters, with two hulls to be built in Finland (deliveries expected in 2028) and up to four in the U.S., and the first U.S.-built vessel expected in 2029.

Seaspan Shipyards' Canadian Multi-Purpose Icebreaker design will be used for the U.S. Coast Guard's new Arctic Security Cutters. Seaspan has signed agreements with Bollinger Shipyards in the United States and Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland. The plan calls for up to six cutters, with two built in Finland and up to four built in the U.S. The design work was completed in Canada under the National Shipbuilding Strategy and is reported to be production-ready. Key facts: - Seaspan's design will underpin up to six Arctic Security Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard, with two hulls to be constructed in Finland (deliveries expected in 2028) and up to four to be built in the United States; the first U.S.-built vessel is expected to enter service in 2029. - The design is the Canadian Multi-Purpose Icebreaker, completed largely in Canada and already finished for production under Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy. - Each cutter is about 328 ft long, 67 ft wide, displaces roughly 9,000 tons and is planned to carry about 85 crew members. - Seaspan reports the ships can break ice up to 4 ft thick, operate continuously for more than 60 days without returning to port, and have an operating range up to 12,000 nautical miles. - The vessels are to use diesel-electric propulsion with installed power above 10,000 kW and include modern communications, navigation, and mission systems. - Using a common, production-ready design aims to simplify maintenance and support interoperability between the U.S. and Canadian coast guards. Summary: The program is intended to expand the U.S. Coast Guard's capability to operate year-round in Arctic waters while using a Canadian, production-ready icebreaker design to move quickly into construction. Finland-built cutters are expected to be delivered beginning in 2028 and the first U.S.-built cutter is expected to enter service in 2029. The shared design also supports common supply chains and interoperability between the two coast guards.