The U.S. Coast Guard has commissioned the medium polar icebreaker USCGC Storis to increase the nation’s presence in the Arctic.
Troy Edgar, deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, attended the new ship’s commissioning ceremony in Juneau, Alaska.
“The commissioning of Storis marks a new beginning for the U.S. Coast Guard,” Edgar said.
“The new investment will lead to a USCG that is better equipped to protect our national interests, support our maritime communities and stand alongside our allies,” he added.
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Coast Guard Adds New Icebreaker to Fleet
Storis, formerly oilfield supply ship Aiviq, was acquired by the Coast Guard in December 2024 and is America’s first icebreaker in 25 years. It is the second vessel in Coast Guard history to be named Storis. The first Storis ship was dubbed the “Galloping Ghost of the Alaskan Coast” and served in the Arctic for 64 years.
The new USCGC Storis measures 360 feet long. It will house a hybrid crew of military and civilian mariners.
Icebreakers are vital to the Coast Guard’s mission in the increasingly contested Arctic region. Adversaries are interested in it because of its potential for trade route traffic, oil and gas, critical minerals, and fishing.
“The commissioning of USCGC Storis immediately strengthens our ability to control, secure, and defend the U.S. border around Alaska and maritime approaches in the Arctic,” stated Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard. “Storis is the first step of a historic investment in the Coast Guard to add critical capacity to our polar icebreaker fleet to protect U.S. sovereignty and counter malign influence throughout the Arctic.”
Storis will be homeported in Seattle, Washington, while upgrades are underway at a proposed pier in Alaska.
