The US Coast Guard's only heavy icebreaker gets a five-year repair plan

The US Coast Guard has awarded a contract to repair its heavy icebreaker, the USCGC Polar Star. This contract covers maintenance and upgrades for the ship from 2026 to 2030.

The US has only two active icebreakers, and only one, the Polar Star, is a heavy icebreaker capable of operating in thick Arctic ice. This contract ensures the Polar Star remains operational for another five years. Without it, the US would have no heavy icebreaking capability, which is critical for national security and scientific research in polar regions.