Coast Guard Strengthens Arctic Operations with New Icebreaker CGC Storis

The United States Coast Guard has taken a massive step in improving its Arctic capabilities by acquiring the 360-foot icebreaker Aiviq, which increases its fleet by 50%. After modest repairs, the vessel will be commissioned as the Coast Guard Cutter Storis, headquartered in Juneau, Alaska.

This acquisition comes at an essential time for the Coast Guard, which has long struggled with limited operational capabilities in the polar regions. Before the Aiviq arrived on November 20, the fleet consisted of only two aged vessels: the heavy icebreaker Polar Star (commissioned in 1976) and the medium icebreaker Healy (commissioned in 1999).

The CGC Storis is a temporary solution as the Coast Guard attempts to develop new Polar Security Cutters, the first modern heavy icebreakers in five decades. On December 19, approval was granted to commence building on the first vessel of this class. These ships will be able to break through several feet of arctic ice and are part of a bigger plan to increase the icebreaker fleet to at least eight ships.

The need for improved capabilities was highlighted this summer when the Healy suffered an electrical fire, necessitating the cancellation of an Arctic expedition. While the Coast Guard's timeframe for deploying new Polar Security Cutters is uncertain, the CGC Storis will offer critical operational support in the meantime.

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