In a bit of an ironic twist, it seems that the Coast Guard needs more icebreakers for the Arctic as the ice melts and more shipping lanes are opened. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen is urging the government to purchase more icebreakers to deal with the increased ship traffic that is being anticipated in the Arctic waters.

The U.S currently has three icebreakers, but not all of them are available. The Polar Star is currently out of service as it undergoes repairs.  A smaller ice breaker, the Healy, is primarily used to aide in scientific research.  That leaves one ship operational right now as icebreaker. In comparison, Canada currently has ten.

During a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing, Commandant Allen said, “What we have now is the minimum capability we need to be able to respond if all three were operating, and they are not.”

Commandant Allen went on to tell the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard that, “Our icebreaker fleet is atrophying, and we run the risk of losing that national capability.”

At the meeting, he also supported the use of funds to repair the Polar Star while stating that the budget for icebreakers and icebreaker repair should be shifted back to the Coast Guard instead of remaining in the hands of the Science Foundation, where it was moved two years ago.  Each of the new icebreakers would cost approximately $900 million.

The Coast Guard is currently conducting a review of what is needed in the Arctic as a direct result of global warming and the melting of the Arctic sea.

“We are in the process of a high latitude study that will be done later this year,” Commandant Allen said. “We hope to develop a mission analysis for what exactly the requirements are and what capabilities would meet it.”