The U.S. Coast Guard recently finalized a $3.5 billion contract with Davie Defense for the construction and delivery of five arctic security cutters (ASCs), a brand new class of polar icebreaker vessels.
The contract was awarded in early February. It was the third of three ASC contracts awarded and became the first to be finalized. The initial contracts allowed shipbuilders to begin planning while the final details were negotiated. The remaining contracts will be finalized in the near future.
Under the terms of the finalized contract, Davie Defense will deliver the first vessel in 2028 with all five to be delivered by February 2035.
“Finalizing this contract represents decisive action to guarantee American security in the Arctic,” Adm. Kevin Lunday, Coast Guard commandant, said. “The arctic security cutters will deliver the essential capability to uphold U.S. sovereignty against adversaries’ aggressive economic and military actions in the Arctic. These cutters will ensure the Coast Guard’s ability to control, secure, and defend our northern border and maritime approaches.”
Davie Defense is part of Inocea, a British-owned marine industrial group with operations in the United States, Canada and Finland. The group designs, builds and maintains mission-critical vessels such as icebreakers and warships.