A Bollinger Shipyards-led international consortium has been selected for the design and construction of six Arctic Security Cutters (ASC) for the U.S. Coast Guard, marking a milestone in America’s efforts to rebuild its Arctic capabilities, reports G Captain.
The team, consisting of Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards, Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions, Canada’s Seaspan Shipyards, and Finland’s Aker Arctic Technology, will leverage the production-ready multi-purpose icebreaker design developed by Seaspan and Aker Arctic for operations in extreme polar environments.
“The Arctic Security Cutter will enable the U.S. to rapidly project American power, enforce our sovereignty, and reassert American dominance in the Arctic,” says Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. Canada’s Davie Shipyards will also contribute to the ASC program by building a separate class of vessels on their fourth-generation Multi-Purpose Polar Support Ship (MPPS) design, according to Bollinger.
According to Bollinger’s construction plan, the first three vessels will be built simultaneously in both Finland and the U.S., with production of the remaining three vessels to take place exclusively in American shipyards. The consortium aims to deliver the first three vessels within 36 months of contract award. Read more.
