The US Coast Guard has confirmed plans to spend $323 million expanding and modernizing its Seattle icebreaker base, underscoring the service’s push to strengthen its Arctic presence as new heavy icebreakers enter the fleet later this decade.
The commitment was confirmed during congressional questioning when Ranking Member Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) asked Coast Guard leadership to verify the scale of planned investment at the Seattle facility. “I believe that’s correct, ranking member,” U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday responded, confirming the $323 million figure for expansion and modernization of the base.
The planned expenditure builds on an initial $137 million contract awarded to Whiting-Turner to modernize Pier 36, the historic waterfront facility that anchors the Coast Guard’s icebreaking operations in Seattle. That earlier contract focuses on adding a new berth and deepening the basin, upgrades designed to accommodate the deeper draft and larger footprint of the future Polar Security Cutters (PSC). Once complete, the work will allow the next generation of heavy icebreakers to enter and operate from the port without restriction…