Posted on March 16, 2026
By Heiner Kubny
The American shipbuilder Davie Defense has received a contract from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for the construction of five Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs). The new class of polar icebreakers is of critical importance to the growing strategic presence of the United States in the Arctic.
The contract is part of a program to build up to eleven Arctic Security Cutters, approved under the presidential memorandum “Construction of Arctic Security Vessels.” Two of the ASCs will be built in Finland at Helsinki Shipyard, a sister yard of Davie Defense. Construction in Finland ensures that the U.S. Coast Guard’s accelerated timeline can be met, with the first vessel scheduled for delivery as early as 2028.
American shipbuilders are working closely with the world-leading icebreaker experts at Helsinki Shipyard and benefiting from their many years of experience in building high-performance polar vessels. At the same time, preparations are underway for the fully American construction of three ASCs at Davie shipyards in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.
Kai Skvarla, CEO of Davie Defense, stated: “We are deeply honored by this vote of confidence. We look forward to beginning delivery of operational patrol vessels to our valued partner, the U.S. Coast Guard. By establishing construction in Texas and leveraging the proven icebreaker expertise of Helsinki Shipyard, we can deliver ships capable of meeting Coast Guard operational requirements even in the harshest environments in the world.”
Davie’s ASC design is based on a proven platform, of which seven variants have already been delivered by Helsinki Shipyard, all of which remain successfully in service.
Davie Defense is the U.S. branch of the INOCEA Group, a British shipping group with operations in Finland, Canada, and the United States. In 2025, INOCEA acquired the shipbuilding facilities of Gulf Copper & Manufacturing in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.
James Davies, co-founder of the INOCEA Group, said: “This contract underscores our role as a trusted partner of the U.S. Coast Guard in Arctic shipbuilding. In light of increasing strategic competition in the Arctic, we are fully committed to delivering world-class icebreakers that enable sustained operations.”
Alex Vicefield, of the INOCEA Group added: “Our focus is on disciplined execution for the U.S. Coast Guard. We are combining proven designs with the world-leading expertise of Helsinki Shipyard to restore first-class shipbuilding capacity in Texas, where we will deliver the vessels on time and on budget.”
