In a press conference yesterday, April 16, Senator Sullivan discussed the securement of three U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers for Alaska and the potential for four more. The icebreakers will help enhance America’s national security at its Arctic front.
In addition to the Storis (an icebreaker commissioned in Juneau on August 10, 2025), Alaska will receive at least two more icebreakers, which are being built right now in Finland as part of the Icebreaker Collaboration Pact (ICE) between the U.S., Canada, and Finland. Two American companies will be traveling to Finland where the first three or four icebreakers will be built and then they will bring the knowledge back to the U.S. to continue building icebreakers here at home.
“It’s finally happening,” said Sen. Sullivan. He emphasized that the announcement of Alaska receiving at least two more icebreakers alongside the Storis is “a great day for Arctic security. A great day for our economy.”
With an influx of Coast Guard service members to man and maintain the ships, Alaska will experience “a boom for our economy,” according to Sen. Sullivan.
Not only will the additional icebreakers bring economic growth, but they will tighten up America’s Arctic security. Russia’s icebreaker fleet of 55 ships with more being built greatly outpaces America’s asset of two icebreakers. Potential Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic makes Alaska the best strategic place to put more icebreakers.
Recognizing the importance of strengthening our national security, the Coast Guard aims to have all three ships operational in Alaska by the end of 2028, which Sen. Sullivan says is “an aggressive timeline” that he will continue to push.
Sen. Sullivan urges Alaskans to work together to prepare for the increased Coast Guard presence. Local communities are already stepping up to build maintenance infrastructure and prepare housing for Coast Guard service members. “I was in Ketchikan, where I witnessed this virtuous cycle… of more ship building and ship maintenance capacity. Particularly in the Southeast. This offers huge cost savings for the Coast Guard.” He also talked about a huge boom in Coast Guard housing in Kodiak, and discussions about housing service members in Ketchikan. Although boroughs and organizations like the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation play critical roles in preparing for the Coast Guard, Sen. Sullivan stated that the Coast Guard also has to step up as part of the answer.
With the ships secured, there is a process now of picking the exact community in Alaska to homeport the icebreakers. Sen. Sullivan assured members of the media that there is a “zero chance” of the Coast Guard walking back on its commitment to Alaska. “I know it is zero… The decision has been made. The icebreakers are being built as we speak.”
Sen. Sullivan asked Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Kevin E. Lunday if “we are done at two [icebreakers].” According to Sullivan, Lunday replied that Alaska may get up to four more.
