Shipyards from Finland, Canada and the United States have lined up to support the new US Coast Guard Arctic Security Cutter programme, which builds on the 2024 trilateral ICE Pact and a new initiative announced by US President Donald Trump, reported Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.

Canada's Seaspan Shipyards and Finland's Aker Arctic Technology have developed one of the cutter designs, to be built by Rauma Marine Construction in Finland and Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana. A second group led by Canada's Davie, which owns Helsinki Shipyard and a Texas yard, will also participate.

Trump signed a memorandum with Finnish President Alexander Stubb invoking national security to allow US icebreaker construction in Finland. The programme aims to leverage Finland's icebreaking expertise and accelerate vessel delivery.

Davie CEO James Davies said the agreement marks a revival of Western industrial power and pledged to work with the US Coast Guard to deliver ships by 2028. Davie is in commercial talks with the Coast Guard to finalise the deal.

The programme is expected to include 11 icebreakers, with Seaspan's group in line to build six. Helsinki Shipyard will use a fourth-generation Arctic design and is currently building the Polar Max icebreaker for Canada.

Davie has expanded steel production through its acquisition of Enersense Offshore in Finland. The Mantyluoto yard is supplying steel blocks for Polar Max and will support the US programme.

Rauma Marine Constructions will build vessels using the Seaspan-Aker MPI design, capable of breaking four feet of ice, travelling 12,000 miles and operating for over 60 days. The design supports interoperability with the Canadian Coast Guard.

The first three cutters will be built simultaneously by Rauma and Bollinger, with delivery expected within 36 months of contract award. Three more vessels will be built in the United States.

Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto welcomed the agreements, noting the country's strong subcontractor network and readiness to execute the programme.