Seaspan design chosen for U.S. Coast Guard’s new Arctic icebreakers
Seaspan’s Canadian Multi‑Purpose Icebreaker design will form the basis for up to six U.S. Coast Guard Arctic Security Cutters, with first deliveries expected in 2028 and 2029.
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By Torontoer Staff
The U.S. Coast Guard will base its next class of Arctic Security Cutters on a Canadian ship design from North Vancouver’s Seaspan Shipyards. Agreements with Bollinger Shipyards in the United States and Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland set the stage for up to six ships built to that design.
Two vessels will be constructed in Finland and are expected for delivery in 2028. Up to four more will be built in the United States, with the first U.S. hull slated to enter service in 2029.
What the ships will be
The cutters will be based on Seaspan’s Multi‑Purpose Icebreaker design, developed for the Canadian Coast Guard under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. Because the design work is largely complete, U.S. authorities can move straight to construction without years of redesign.
- Length: about 328 feet
- Beam: about 67 feet
- Displacement: roughly 9,000 tonnes
- Crew: approximately 85 personnel
- Propulsion: diesel‑electric with more than 10,000 kilowatts of installed power
- Ice capability: able to break through ice up to four feet thick
- Endurance: more than 60 days of continuous operation without returning to port
- Range: up to 12,000 nautical miles
The ships are intended for multiple roles beyond icebreaking, including defence, maritime sovereignty patrols, scientific support, search and rescue, and maintaining a year‑round presence in polar waters. They will carry modern communications, navigation and mission systems to support those tasks.
The ships will be able to break through ice up to four feet thick and operate continuously for more than 60 days without returning to port.
Seaspan
Why a Canadian design matters to the U.S. program
It is uncommon for major U.S. defence ship programmes to adopt non‑U.S. designs. The choice of Seaspan’s production‑ready blueprint cuts both time and risk for the Coast Guard by avoiding a long design phase. Shared components and suppliers between Canadian and U.S. units also promise easier maintenance and lower lifecycle costs.
Officials and industry representatives describe the common design as supportive of trilateral Arctic cooperation efforts, including the ICE Pact framework that aims to improve interoperability among Arctic states.
Production, timelines and Canada’s shipbuilding role
Seaspan is already a major player in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, holding a substantial portion of the country’s icebreaker programme. The company has delivered four ice‑capable vessels to the Canadian Coast Guard, including a heavy polar icebreaker currently under construction, and is contracted for up to 16 Multi‑Purpose Icebreakers.
Under the new agreements, Rauma Marine Constructions will build the first two U.S. cutters in Finland with deliveries in 2028. Bollinger will build up to four vessels in the United States, with the first U.S. hull expected to be operational in 2029.
Strategic and political context
The deal comes amid rising strategic interest in the Arctic and growing competition over polar routes and resources. It also arrives at a time of political emphasis in both countries on domestic production and industrial sovereignty, which adds a complex layer to cross‑border procurement.
Using a Canadian design for a U.S. fleet highlights practical cooperation driven by shared geography and operational needs, even as both governments balance domestic industrial priorities and political sensitivities.
What to watch next
- Progress on construction in Finland and the United States and whether delivery milestones are met
- Any modifications the U.S. Coast Guard requests for the Canadian design
- How shared suppliers and logistics arrangements develop between the two coasts
- Impacts on Canada’s own icebreaker fleet and ongoing National Shipbuilding Strategy work
The agreement positions Seaspan’s Multi‑Purpose Icebreaker as a central element in expanding allied icebreaking capacity at a time of increasing Arctic activity and strategic interest.
SeaspanicebreakerArcticshipbuildingU.S. Coast GuardCanada
