U.S. Coast Guard’s Newest Icebreaker Returns From Arctic Patrol as U.S. Expands Polar Fleet

The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest polar icebreaker has returned to Seattle after a 36-day deployment to the Bering Sea, marking an early operational test for a cutter expected to play a growing role in U.S. Arctic operations.

USCGC Storis (WAGB 21) returned last Monday to its temporary Seattle homeport following a winter patrol focused on icebreaking performance, operational readiness, joint operations and logistics in the high latitudes.

Commissioned in 2025, Storis is the Coast Guard’s first newly commissioned polar icebreaker in more than two decades. The 360-foot medium icebreaker was deployed to assess its performance in Arctic conditions and establish baseline data for future Coast