Posted on February 4, 2026
By MI News Network
The US Coast Guard has confirmed plans to spend $323 million to expand and modernise its Seattle icebreaker base, strengthening its ability to operate in the Arctic as new heavy icebreakers are added to the fleet later this decade.
The funding commitment was confirmed during a congressional hearing after Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) asked Coast Guard leadership to verify the scale of investment planned for the Seattle facility.
US Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday confirmed that the service intends to invest $323 million in upgrading and expanding the base.
The planned investment builds on an earlier $137 million contract awarded to Whiting-Turner to modernise Pier 36, the historic waterfront facility that supports the Coast Guard’s icebreaking operations in Seattle.
That work includes dredging, construction of a new berth and utility upgrades, allowing the facility to handle the larger size and deeper draft of the upcoming Polar Security Cutters (PSCs).
Once completed, the upgraded pier will allow the next generation of heavy icebreakers to operate from Seattle without restrictions.
Pier 36 is currently home to the medium icebreaker Healy and the heavy icebreaker Polar Star.
Lunday told lawmakers that the work is focused on rebuilding and expanding the base to support the future PSCs while continuing to support Healy.
He also said the first Polar Security Cutter, currently under construction in Mississippi, remains on track for delivery in 2030.
The Seattle upgrade is part of a plan to modernise the Coast Guard’s icebreaking fleet. The service plans to operate up to 11 Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) alongside three Polar Security Cutters.
All PSCs are expected to be homeported in Seattle, while some ASCs are likely to be based in Alaska.
Lunday told lawmakers that the Coast Guard is expanding its icebreaking fleet to strengthen security in the Arctic and along northern maritime routes.
He confirmed that contracts have already been awarded to build six Arctic Security Cutters, with two vessels to be built in Finland and four in the United States. Additional contracts are planned to increase shipbuilding work in US yards.
Alaska is also receiving major investment. The icebreaker Storis will be homeported in Juneau, supported by around $300 million in shoreside infrastructure upgrades.
Lunday said the Coast Guard is working to have the pier and facilities ready by 2029. He added that housing for crews remains a challenge and will require further funding.
