It’s official: First two US icebreakers to be built in Rauma
Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) has signed a contract with the United States Coast Guard to build two medium-sized icebreakers at its Rauma Shipyard in Southwest Finland. That is part of a major deal announced in October Finnish President Alexander Stubb, reportedly involving 11 vessels and worth more than five billion euros.
Construction of the Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) vessels will begin immediately in Rauma. They are to be completed in 2028. The Satakunta University of Applied Sciences is involved in the project as an educational partner.
According to Rauma Shipyard CEO Mika Nieminen, the agreement is a historic milestone and a great show of confidence.
“Our focus is straightforward: execute with discipline, manage risk rigorously, and deliver two cutters that are ready to operate in the world’s harshest maritime environment from day one,” Nieminen said in a company press release.
Puisto: “Excellent news”
Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto (Finns) hailed the deal as “excellent news for Finland and for our entire maritime industry”.
“The order strengthens the position of Finnish companies in the global value chain, increases Finland’s competitiveness and increases export income,” Puisto said in the statement on Tuesday.
Preparatory work for the icebreakers already began in Rauma last autumn, and now the shipyard is moving into full-scale implementation of the project.
The design of the vessels is based on a multi-purpose icebreaker model developed by Canada’s Seaspan Shipyards in collaboration with Finnish Aker Arctic Technology. The vessels will be built in industrial cooperation with US partners, such as Bollinger Shipyards, based in Louisiana.
€5.2b price tag
The two ASC vessels being built in Rauma belong to a new class of medium-sized polar icebreakers designed to support the missions of the US Coast Guard.
Rauma Shipyard said that ASC vessels are capable of continuous icebreaking in difficult Arctic conditions, long-term independent operation without replenishment, and long-distance operations.
After a string of meetings – and golf sessions – with Stubb, US President Donald Trump said in March and again in June that the US wanted to buy Finnish icebreakers. In October, Stubb confirmed the deal, worth an estimated 6.1 billion dollars, or about 5.2 billion euros.
Four of the ships are to be built in Finland, while seven others are to be assembled in the US, Reuters reported.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada, U.S., Finland take step forward on ICE Pact plan to build icebreakers, The Canadian Press
Denmark: Denmark, Greenland agree to build naval wharf in Nuuk amid growing Arctic focus, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Canada wants to learn from Finland, Yle News
Iceland: Europe’s Von der Leyen strengthens Arctic security ties with Iceland during visit, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: German naval ships firing at Norwegian Arctic test range, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia trains coastal attack scenario 30 km from border with Norway, The Associated Press
Sweden: Sweden looking for Canadian partnership to ramp up fighter, surveillance plane production, Radio Sweden
United States: Russian warplanes detected flying near Alaska for ninth time this year, US military says, Eye on the Arctic
