The United States Coast Guard has officially acquired the icebreaking offshore supply vessel Aiviq and renamed it CGC Storis. Once commissioned, the vessel will be the first new polar icebreaker for the U.S. Coast Guard in 25 years.
The U.S. Coast Guard has signed a $125 million firm-fixed-price contract with Offshore Service Vessels LLC, a division of Edison Chouest Offshore. The contract includes delivery, recommissioning, certification and refit of the vessel, as well as crew training, spare parts supply and sea trials to ensure operational readiness.
The U.S. Coast Guard has not provided an exact timeline for completing the vessel’s conversion. Currently, the Tampa, Florida-based shipping company’s refit efforts are focused on repainting the ship’s hull.2024 In December 2024, U.S. officials told a congressional hearing that the ship is expected to conduct its first Arctic patrol mission in 2026.2025 The U.S. Coast Guard has not provided a timeline for the completion of the ship’s refit. Crew selection will begin in the summer of 2025, with about 60 officers and enlisted personnel scheduled to participate.
U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan said, “The Coast Guard is pleased to acquire this icebreaker, which is an important step in strengthening our operational presence in the Arctic. The future Coast Guard cutter ‘Storis’ will carry on our tradition of operating in the Arctic and further strengthen our commitment to upholding U.S. sovereignty and supporting national security in the region.”
Aiviq was built in 2012 by Edison Chouest Offshore of Louisiana for Shell’s offshore oil exploration in Alaska. The 360-foot-long vessel is equipped for icebreaking and mooring operations and meets ABS A3 classification standards for navigation in polar ice. Its propulsion system consists of four Caterpillar C280-12 engines, and it can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots in open water and 5 knots in 1-meter-thick ice.
The vessel is also equipped with a helideck, adjustable pitch propellers and dynamic positioning. The vessel can accommodate a crew of 64 and has a bollard pull of 200 metric tons. Since its establishment, Aiviq has carried out a number of missions in the Arctic and Antarctic, including oil spill response and bunkering operations.
The CGC Storis is much newer than the Healy, commissioned in 1997, and the Polar Star, commissioned in 1973. CGC Storis is much newer and has icebreaking capabilities comparable to those of the medium-sized icebreaker Healy.
Meanwhile, construction of the U.S. Coast Guard’s first new heavy icebreaker in 50 years, also known as the Polar Security Icebreaker polar security cutter (PSC), is underway at Bollinger Shipbuilding in Mississippi. Meanwhile, construction of the U.S. Coast Guard’s first new heavy icebreaker in 50 years, also known as the Polar Security Icebreaker polar security cutter (PSC), is underway at Bollinger Shipbuilding in Mississippi. Construction of the 85-module vessel is expected to continue through 2030. The U.S. Coast Guard has authorized Bollinger Shipbuilding to build the first 16 modules. The construction of the vessel marks a significant advancement after more than 15 years of efforts to secure funding and complete the design.
Ultimately, the U.S. Coast Guard plans to build eight to nine polar icebreakers to respond to increasing operational needs in the Arctic and to defend against growing Russian and Chinese activity in the region.