U.S. Coast Guard’s New Icebreaker ’Storis’ Departs on Maiden Voyage Bolstering Presence in Arctic
The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest icebreaker: USCGC Storis. (Source: U.S Coast Guard)
The U.S. Coast Guard has taken a first key step in strengthening its Arctic posture. Icebreaker Storis is joining the USCG fleet after a six months conversion process to turn the commercial ice-capable supply vessel into an icebreaker. The vessel will be a key interim asset while the U.S. awaits construction of the new heavy polar icebreaker.
Just six months after acquiring icebreaking anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) Aiviq, the U.S. Coast Guard has dispatched the now-called U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis (WAGB 21) onto its maiden voyage.
Formal commissioning is expected in August in Juneau, Alaska, the vessel’s future home port.
The USCG converted and readied the vessel on an accelerated schedule at a Tampa, Florida shipyard. Initial comments following the vessel’s purchase in December 2024 suggested it wouldn’t be ready until later in 2025 or even 2026.
First in 25 years
The Storis becomes the U.S.’ first polar icebreaker to join the fleet in more than 25 years; a significant milestone and much-needed stopgap measure while the service awaits completion of the Polar Security Cutter not before 2030.
“Storis […] departed on its maiden voyage to safeguard U.S. sovereign interests in the Arctic and conduct select Coast Guard missions,” a Coast Guard press release reads.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest icebreaker: USCGC Storis. (Source: U.S Coast Guard)
It joins the nearly 50-year old Polar Star and 25 year-old Healy. The vessel will be commanded by Capt. Keith M. Ropella, who previously commanded the U.S.’ only heavy icebreaker Polar Star between July 2022 and July 2024.
Storis will be crewed by both military personnel and civilian mariners in what the Coast Guard calls a hybrid crew.
The vessel’s commercial background – it was designed for Shell’s Arctic drilling operations more than a decade ago – may help explain why the USCG has chosen this type of crew composition.
More icebreakers in the future
The Coast Guard hopes that Storis will be just the first of a whole fleet of icebreakers to join the service. USCG leadership has repeatedly stated the need for 8-9 new polar icebreakers to meet its operational needs in the polar regions.
President Trump has stated he will acquire at least 40 new icebreakers, a tall order especially for U.S. shipyards that haven’t constructed such a type of vessel since the 1990s or even the 1970s in case of heavy icebreakers.
Asking foreign yards how quickly they could design and construct the Arctic Security Cutter.
As part of last year’s ICE Pact with Canada and Finland, the U.S. may be looking to foreign yards to provide expertise or possibly construction itself.
The USCG released a Request for Information (RFI) in April asking foreign yards how quickly they could design and construct the medium-size Arctic Security Cutter.
Question of funding
Finnish media reported at the time that Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) was in negotiations with the U.S. to deliver three to five medium icebreakers.
A key question will be the issue of funding. Many times over the past decade Coast Guard funding requests were cut in the process of turning draft budget legislation into the final federal budget.
Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” currently working its way through the U.S. Congress, awaiting approval by the Senate after passing through the House, would allocate up to $20bn extra to the Coast Guard, including for the Arctic. For 2025 the Coast Guard’s entire budget stood at $13.8bn.
