Bollinger To Lead Effort To Build Six ASCs

President Donald Trump, during an October 9 event at the White House, announced that Bollinger Shipyards, working in conjunction with Finland-based Rauma Marine Constructions and Aker Arctic Technology and Canada-based Seaspan Shipyards, has been selected for the design and construction of six Arctic Security Cutters (ASC). Bollinger Shipyards operates repair and new construction facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi. Construction will begin immediately in both Finland and the United States, with all production eventually shifting to the United States.

“Today’s award is a testament to President Trump’s leadership and his historic investment in America’s maritime industrial base,” said Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “We appreciate the trust President Trump has placed in the skilled men and women of Bollinger Shipyards and stand ready to begin construction on these critical vessels on day one. The Arctic Security Cutter will enable the United States to rapidly project American power, enforce our sovereignty and reassert American dominance in the Arctic.”

According to a White House fact sheet, the Coast Guard’s fleet of ASCs and Arctic-capable vessels is insufficient to meet current operational demands and presents a national security risk.

The Coast Guard’s current fleet includes just two operational ASCs, one of which was commissioned in 1976. The second is a former commercial vessel commissioned into the Coast Guard last month.

Funding of nearly $9 billion to build a series of heavy, medium and light ASCs was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“We need icebreakers in the U.S., and if we can get some inexpensively, I’d like to do that,” Trump stated.

The announcement coincided with a visit by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who also spoke of the jobs likely to be created by the ship purchases.

Key members of Congress applauded the announcement.

“This news is especially welcome given the growing influence of other nations like China and Russia, and how far we must go to rival their presence in the Arctic,” said Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) took the opportunity to praise Bollinger, which is based in his home state.

“I am proud to represent the only shipbuilder in the United States in Bollinger Shipyards that has the capability, capacity and expertise to begin construction on these critical vessels on day one that will project American power and dominance in the Arctic,” Scalise said.

The ASC program falls under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, a trilateral partnership between the United States, Canada and Finland focused on boosting shipbuilding capacity and growing those countries’ presence in the Arctic. Simultaneous production at Bollinger’s and Rauma’s shipyards will accelerate delivery of the initial ASCs.

“Seaspan is extremely proud to work hand in hand with our American and Finnish partners, Bollinger, Aker and Rauma, to provide the U.S. Coast Guard with a state-of-the-art icebreaker design that is mission ready for extreme ice conditions and will fortify and strengthen Arctic security,” said John McCarthy, CEO of Seaspan Shipyards. “This contract award demonstrates Seaspan’s world-class marine engineering and design capabilities on the global stage and further expands North America’s capacity to design, build and export Arctic-going vessels.”

The forthcoming ASCs will have the ability to break 4 feet of ice, travel 12,000 nautical miles and operate for more than 60 days at a time. The fleet will enable year-round access to Arctic waters to support national defense, maritime sovereignty, scientific research and search and rescue operations. In addition to the Bollinger-led team, Canada-based Davie Shipyards will build a separate class of vessels based on its Multi-Purpose Plate Support Ship design.

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Featured photo caption: An artist’s rendering of the forthcoming Arctic Security Cutter. (Courtesy of Bollinger Shipyards)