Polar Security Cutter program
The Polar Security Cutter Program is a program to recapitalize the United States Coast Guard's aging fleet of icebreakers, currently consisting of the heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star and the medium icebreaker USCGC Healy, with three new multi-mission vessels referred to as Polar Security Cutters (PSC). These heavy polar icebreakers will allow the USCG to perform its statutory missions in the Arctic as well as support the United States Antarctic Program with Operation Deep Freeze.
Rendering of the Polar Security Cutter design to be built by VT Halter Marine | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Bollinger Shipyards |
| Operators | United States Coast Guard |
| Preceded by | Polar-class icebreaker |
| Cost |
|
| In service |
|
| Planned | 3 |
| On order | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 22,900 long tons (23,300 t) |
| Length | 460 ft (140 m) |
| Beam | 88 ft (27 m) |
| Ice class | Polar Class 2 |
| Installed power | Caterpillar main diesel generators |
| Propulsion | Diesel-electric; two ABB Azipod propulsion units and one shaft line |
| Endurance | 90 days |
| Capacity | Berthing for 186 persons |
| Armament |
|
| Aviation facilities | Helipad and hangar |
The PSC program is managed by the USCG and United States Navy through an integrated program office. On 23 April 2019, Halter Marine Inc was awarded the contract for the detail design and construction of the lead PSC. The contract option for the second PSC was exercised on 30 December 2021. As of July 2023, the first vessel is expected to enter service in mid-to-late-2020s and will be named USCGC Polar Sentinel.
In the future, the PSCs will be followed by the acquisition of three medium icebreakers referred to as Arctic Security Cutters (ASC).