USCGC Storis Embarks on Historic First Journey as the Coast Guard's Latest Arctic Icebreaker

According to a recent publication by the U.S. Coast Guard, the agency has reached an critically important milestone in it’s Arctic operations with the inaugural journey of its latest icebreaker, USCGC Storis (WAGB 21), wich set sail from Pascagoula, Mississippi. This marks the first addition of a polar icebreaker to their fleet in over two decades and comes at a pivotal moment for American interests in the Arctic.

Previously named Aiviq, this vessel was purchased from Edison Chouest Offshore for $125 million back in December 2024. The deal encompassed everything from delivery and reactivation to crew training and sea trials. Built in 2012 for Shell’s oil exploration efforts off Alaska’s coast,Storis is significantly newer than other vessels like Healy (1997) and Polar Star (1973) that are part of the Coast Guard’s current fleet.

Under Captain Keith M. Ropella—who previously commanded Polar Star—the Storis features an innovative crew mix that includes both military personnel and civilian mariners.With its Polar Class 3-equivalent ice certification, it matches up well against medium icebreakers like Healy.

The timing of this launch is particularly noteworthy given last summer’s joint Arctic patrol conducted by Russia and China near Alaska’s Bering Strait. The Storis is set to enhance U.S. operational capabilities in these icy waters while awaiting new additions to the Coast Guard’s fleet under the upcoming Polar Security Cutter class.

The broader strategy involves expanding their polar icebreaker fleet to eight or nine vessels as part of President Biden’s initiative aiming for at least 40 new icebreakers overall. Currently, there are three polar icebreakers along with 21 domestic ones and another 16 capable buoy tenders operating within U.S. waters. Notably,construction on a new heavy-duty icebreaker—the first in half a century—is already underway at Bollinger Shipbuilding with an expected completion date around 2030.

Storis will officially be commissioned this August in Juneau, Alaska—its designated homeport—but will initially operate out of Seattle alongside other polar vessels until necessary infrastructure upgrades are completed back home.

This ship carries historical meaning as it is named after another Storis that served as “the galloping Ghost of the Alaskan Coast,” performing vital operations for over six decades before being decommissioned in 2007.

Funding for this acquisition came through provisions outlined in the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 along with fiscal year appropriations from 2024 as part of Secretary Kristi Noem’s Force Design initiative aimed at bolstering readiness through strategic improvements across various sectors including personnel management and technology advancements.