Mississippi shipbuilder receives US$951.6M contract modification to advance the detail design and construction of Polar Security Cutter Program
Construction of the US Coast Guard’s (USCG) first new heavy icebreaker in almost 50 years inched closer to reality, following the award of an almost US$1Bn contract modification to Bollinger Shipyards.
Under the US$951.6M contract modification, the Louisiana-based shipbuilder will advance the detail design and construction of the US Coast Guard’s Polar Security Cutter (PSC) Program.
The PSC Program is aimed at recapitalising the US Coast Guard’s aging fleet of icebreakers, one being the 1976-built heavy icebreaker, USCGC Polar Star, and the other, the 1999-built one medium icebreaker, USCGC Healy. In December 2024, the USCG also acquired Aiviq, a Polar Class-3 equivalent icebreaker, from Edison Chouest Offshore to support operations in the Arctic. Renamed the US Coast Guard cutter Storis (WAGB 21), the icebreaker is based in Juneau, Alaska.
Bollinger Shipyards president and chief executive, Ben Bordelon said securing the fixed-price-incentive-firm target contract modification took “a herculean effort and underscores the incredible trust the US Government has placed in Bollinger to build and deliver the first heavy polar icebreaker in half a century.” Added Mr Bordelon, “We now look forward to receiving the green light to begin full production.”
Following its acquisition of VT Halter Marine in November 2022, Bollinger Shipyards has made a significant economic impact in the state through targeted investments and workforce expansion. To date, Bollinger has invested US$76M across its Mississippi facilities, including BMS, Bollinger Mississippi Repair, Bollinger Gulfport Shipyard, and CHAND Gulf Coast.
The success of the PSC Program will be vital to enhancing the United States’ operational capabilities in the Arctic region as vital to its national security and commercial interests.
“As the Arctic grows as an arena of great power competition, the United States will require far more icebreaking capability from the US Coast Guard to defend our interests in the region,” said Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
President Trump would like to see the US build a lot more icebreakers based on his remarks during Hurricane Helene recovery briefing just days after being sworn in for his second term. “We’re going to order about 40 Coast Guard big icebreakers. Big ones,” said the President.
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