US eyes Finnish icebreakers as Arctic ambitions heat up

U.S. efforts to rebuild and expand its ageing icebreaker fleet are rapidly gaining momentum, with President Donald Trump confirming during the NATO summit in The Hague that Washington is in advanced negotiations with Finland to purchase up to 15 icebreaking vessels, including one second-hand ship that may be immediately available.

“I want to buy icebreakers, you are very good at icebreakers,” “You are the King of Icebreakers, you make ’em good, really good," Trump said in response to a question from a Finnish reporter during a press conference, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Trump added that discussions with Finland had focused on acquiring a total of 15 vessels, one of which is reportedly 5 to 6 years old and could be purchased quickly. “We negotiated for 15 icebreakers, one of them is available now, and we are trying to buy it, and trying to make a good deal,” he said.

Recounting a March 2025 meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Trump said, “I actually made him an offer. There is a used icebreaker, and we negotiated. We need icebreakers in the U.S., and if we could get some inexpensive ones, then I would like to do that. They’ll fix it up and make it good.”

While Trump did not specify which icebreaker is under consideration, the Finnish inventory raises some doubts. Finland’s only relatively modern used vessel that could match the age described is the Polaris, built in 2016. However, experts note that Polaris does not fit the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Arctic mission profile.

Designed for escort duties in the Baltic Sea, Polaris and similar Finnish icebreakers are optimised for high-speed commercial shipping support with small crews and 10-day port visit cycles — vastly different from long-duration Arctic patrols.

“It’s like offering my Miata to help someone transport their sofa when they are moving. Yes, it has four wheels, but…,” one industry analyst quipped, illustrating the mismatch.

According to a recent report by Finland’s leading newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) may be poised to supply the U.S. with three to five medium-sized icebreakers under a deal estimated at $2.7 billion. RMC has been expanding its capacity as global demand for ice-capable ships rises.

Supporting this trend, Finland’s premier icebreaker engineering company, Aker Arctic, has merged with ship designer Bluetech in a move aimed at boosting its technical capabilities.

Canada is also capitalising on the rising demand. In 2023, Canadian shipbuilder Davie purchased the Helsinki Shipyard, further consolidating its icebreaking expertise. More recently, Davie expanded operations into the U.S. Gulf Coast by acquiring shipyard assets in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas, from Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation — a step intended to establish Texas as a major U.S. hub for icebreaker construction.

The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that it will need eight to nine polar icebreakers in total, including at least four to five heavy ice-class vessels, to meet its strategic mission requirements in the Arctic.

After decades of neglect, the fleet is finally beginning to grow. The Coast Guard’s first new addition to its polar fleet in nearly 30 years is expected to be officially commissioned later this summer. A used vessel, the Storis, departed from Bollinger Shipyards in Pascagoula, Mississippi, earlier this month and is currently en route to Alaska after passing through the Panama Canal.

By Tamilla Hasanova