A new trilateral shipbuilding alliance led by Bollinger Shipyards and joined by Rauma Shipyards, Seaspan Shipyards, and Aker Arctic aims to deliver the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) within 36 months, marking a significant step in American Arctic capability and maritime defense.
In a strategic move to accelerate the modernization of the United States’ icebreaking fleet, Bollinger Shipyards announced a new partnership with Finland’s Rauma Shipyards, Canada’s Seaspan Shipyards, and Finland-based Aker Arctic Technology Inc. The collaboration is designed to deliver a purpose-built Arctic Security Cutter to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) with minimal risk and maximum speed, leveraging the trilateral ICE Pact framework between the United States, Canada, and Finland.
The vessel’s design—developed by Seaspan and Aker Arctic—is production-ready and exceeds all U.S. Coast Guard requirements. With its capacity to break through four feet of ice, travel 12,000 nautical miles, and remain operational for over 60 days, the design supports all eleven statutory Coast Guard missions and emphasizes mission-readiness for extreme conditions.
Fast-Track Delivery Rooted in American Industry
The initiative answers President Trump’s renewed call to grow and modernize the U.S. icebreaker fleet, positioning Bollinger Shipyards, the largest privately-owned U.S. shipbuilder, at the center of production. According to Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger, the company is ready to move swiftly with its existing workforce of over 4,000 skilled workers and 30+ facilities across the United States.
“Speculative designs can derail programs,” Bordelon noted. “We’re bringing proven capability, hard-earned lessons, and unmatched U.S. capacity to get it built.”
This program marks a continuation of Bollinger’s recent heavy icebreaker project—the first such vessel constructed in the United States in half a century. The current ASC initiative aims to significantly reduce the timeline for delivery and fully transition production to U.S. shipyards by leveraging international design maturity and technology transfer.
International Expertise, Local Impact
Rauma Shipyards, renowned for building vessels capable of operating in extreme Arctic conditions, brings experience and operational readiness to the table. “We are fully prepared to begin construction immediately,” said Mika Nieminen, President and CEO of Rauma Shipyards, emphasizing the Finnish yard’s current capability and long-standing ice-class shipbuilding expertise.
Beyond ship construction, Rauma will offer crew training, bridge simulation, and ice trial services, aimed at enhancing operational readiness for U.S. crews in polar environments.
Seaspan Shipyards, currently fulfilling the world’s largest order book of ice-capable vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard, highlighted the dual benefits of shared design between the U.S. and Canadian fleets. “We’re proud to collaborate with Bollinger, Rauma, and Aker Arctic to strengthen Arctic security,” said John McCarthy, CEO of Seaspan Shipyards. The shared Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) design ensures interoperability, simplifies long-term maintenance, and strengthens operational alignment between allied Arctic forces.
Proven Design, Reduced Risk
While competing proposals require further design development, this team enters the competition with a design already tailored for Canada’s icebreaking needs and adapted for U.S. operational demands. Aker Arctic, the company behind most of the world’s active icebreaker designs, assures technical reliability and mission adaptability.
Mika Hovilainen, CEO of Aker Arctic, said, “This vessel includes specialized capabilities essential for Coast Guard missions. We’re committed to building state-of-the-art icebreakers that meet the highest standards of mission capability and reliability.”
Strategic Framework: The ICE Pact
The collaboration is structured under the ICE Pact, a trilateral industrial and defense initiative uniting the United States, Canada, and Finland in Arctic maritime innovation and production. The partnership reflects broader national priorities to rebuild American maritime strength while ensuring allied cooperation in an increasingly contested Arctic region.
By focusing on speed, cost certainty, and proven expertise, the proposed ASC solution stands apart in a field often hindered by immature concepts and slow procurement cycles. This team offers not just a vessel, but a pathway to revitalizing American icebreaker manufacturing at scale—with design and knowledge flowing from proven experts to American shipyards and workers.
