U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) transits the waters of Puget Sound near Seattle on Dec. 4, 2020. The crew is deploying on rare wintertime mission to the Arctic Circle. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier)

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) transits the waters of Puget Sound near Seattle on Dec. 4, 2020. The crew is deploying on rare wintertime mission to the Arctic Circle. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier)

Coast Guard needs more focus on Alaska bases and ships, Sullivan says

Recent Russian exercises and America’s sole functional icebreaker are all cause for concern, the senator opined.

President Donald Trump’s decision to veto the annual defense budget may have lasting effects for Alaska, especially the Coast Guard.

The National Defense Authorization Act, which included more than $740 billion for military programs and construction, was combined with the Coast Guard’s annual funding authorization for the first time, a move he helped engineer, said Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican, in a news conference.

The NDAA included funding for construction of a second Polar Security Cutter, the Coast Guard’s new heavy icebreaker class, as well as funding for new National Security Cutters and Fast Response Cutters, some of which will be homeported in Alaska.

[Sullivan announces intent to override Trump’s defense budget veto]

But is that funding enough? Sullivan argued that more emphasis should be placed on Alaska.

“Coast Guard infrastructure, even in Kodiak, can’t currently support medium and heavy icebreakers. There’s a requirement related to how big and heavy these ships are,” Sullivan said. “The Coast Guard needs to work with us to facilitate the ability on Coast Guard bases (in Alaska) to homeport these icebreakers.”

More and bigger

Sullivan said he was working hard to ensure as much new construction as possible was sent to Alaska, which needs it to support a growing mission in the far north. The Coast Guard has only one heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, which is currently deployed in the Arctic, a retasking from its annual mission to support McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

A second medium icebreaker, the Healy, is in the yards with an engineering casualty and is not seaworthy. Neighboring nations, including the non-Arctic China, have more and bigger icebreakers, including Russia’s recently launched nuclear-power Arktika.

“The men and women of the Coast Guard are rescuing lives every day, especially in our state. But their strategic outlook is a little myopic,” Sullivan said. “Our icebreakers need to be homeported in the Arctic. Most people don’t know they take 8-9 days to transit to the Bering Strait from Seattle.”

With Mt. Baker in the background, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) transits Puget Sound north of Seattle on Dec. 4, 2020. The Polar Star normally departs for Antarctica, but this year the pandemic has cancelled their mission to assist with resupplying bases there. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Steve Strohmaier)

With Mt. Baker in the background, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) transits Puget Sound north of Seattle on Dec. 4, 2020. The Polar Star normally departs for Antarctica, but this year the pandemic has cancelled their mission to assist with resupplying bases there. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Steve Strohmaier)

The initial homeport for the icebreakers will be in Seattle, Sullivan said, but he’s advocating for the expansion of facilities in Alaska. A survey is currently being done of Alaskan communities for port cities with the Coast Guard and non-Coast Guard infrastructure required to support the vessels.

“The heavies, once built, will be homeported in Seattle. But it makes sense to keep the other icebreakers in Alaska,” Sullivan said. “Where the hell else are you going to put them? Florida? Although I guess that’s where one of them is.”

The icebreaker in Florida is identified by The Associated Press as the Aiviq, a civilian medium icebreaker owned by Gary Chouest, a major donor to the Republican party, and forwarded by Sullivan as a candidate for leasing by the government. Sullivan also mentioned a possible icebreaker in Finland for use.

Contested waters

That mission for the nascent icebreaker fleet is only growing more important as incursion by Russian and Chinese forces and fishing fleets in American waters and exclusive economic zones.

“There was a huge discussion on what happened when our fishing fleet had these huge problems and were not made aware of this gigantic Russian navy, army and air force operation in our exclusive economic zone,” Sullivan said. “I think there’s a huge number of missions that Polar Security Cutters have with regard to protecting to economic interests, fishing interests, environmental interests, and national security interests in the United States Arctic (territory).”

Coast Guard divers familiarize themselves with the hull of the Polar Star as part of the training for the annual Cold Water Ice Diving Course, Feb. 9, 2011. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan W. Bradshaw)

Coast Guard divers familiarize themselves with the hull of the Polar Star as part of the training for the annual Cold Water Ice Diving Course, Feb. 9, 2011. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan W. Bradshaw)

Sullivan measured leasing medium icebreakers as a stopgap measure while the PSCs come out of the yards and enter active commission.

“How do we bridge the gap, now that the Healy is down for overhaul? We’re essentially down to one icebreaker,” Sullivan said. “The big play right now is to try to execute a leasing option with two medium class icebreakers, like, within the next several weeks. There’s money in the Navy’s budget for this. And to try to get these homeported in the interim in Alaska.”

Sullivan also discussed an ongoing project to build a deepwater port near Nome, supporting operations in the high Arctic.

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Jan. 25

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Alaska senators outline key priorities in the opening day of the 34th Legislature

An increase to the Base Student Allocation and in resource development among coming proposals.

State Sens. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), Matt Claman (D-Anchorage), Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) and Sen. James Kaufman (R-Anchorage) are sworn in by Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom during the opening day of the 34th Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
34th Alaska Legislature gavels in smoothly — now the hard part begins

Leadership battle in House from past sessions avoided, but minority has enough votes to sway agenda.

President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it on stage during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena following his inauguration as the 47th president in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Donald Trump signs executive orders, lifting oil restrictions in the Arctic

His decision receives praise from Alaska congressional delegation, concern from environmental groups.

Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States, is set to revert to its former name of Mount McKinley under an executive order signed Monday by President Donald Trump. (Denali National Park and Preserve photo)
Poll: Alaskans oppose reverting Denali back to Mt. McKinley by more than two-to-one

Trump voters in state favor change 43%-37%, Harris voters oppose 7%-86%, according to survey.

Adm. Linda L. Fagan, the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard since 2022, was relieved of duty after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)
Adm. Linda Fagan fired as Coast Guard Commandant on Trump’s first day back in office

First woman to head a U.S. military branch presided over decision to homeport icebreaker in Juneau.

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Monday. (Chang W. Lee / The New York Times)
Here are Trump’s day-one executive orders

President Trump on Monday began issuing a barrage of executive orders, kicking… Continue reading

An officer from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine Sector office, which has assigned two permanent officers to Juneau as of December. (U.S. Border Patrol photo)
Border Patrol launches Juneau operation, with eye on drugs rather than mass deportations

Two-person deployment will work with police, tribal, other agencies throughout Southeast Alaska.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read