Davie Defense has finalized a $3.5 billion contract with the United States Coast Guard for the construction and delivery of five Arctic Security Cutters (ASC), a new class of Arctic icebreaker. The contract will see two ships built at Helsinki Shipyard in Finland and three ships constructed at Gulf Copper facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.
The program is part of the U.S. government's broader effort to expand its Arctic fleet and deliver a total of 11 ASCs. Davie Defense is the U.S. arm of Inocea, a UK-owned maritime group with operations in Finland, Canada, and the U.S. The company has been revitalizing American shipbuilding capabilities since acquiring Gulf Copper's shipbuilding assets in Texas in 2025.
The Arctic Security Cutters will strengthen the U.S. Coast Guard's capability in one of the world's most strategically important regions. The vessels will provide critical capability in a region where reliability and operational readiness are non-negotiable.
Davie Defense is committed to executing this program with long-term partnership in mind. The company's expertise in Arctic shipbuilding will support the onshoring of Arctic shipbuilding expertise to the U.S. while strengthening long-term industrial capability and workforce development on the Texas Gulf Coast.
The ASC program complements Gulf Copper's existing work, which includes fabrication of modules for the Flight III Arleigh Burke class destroyers for the U.S. Navy. This project will include up to $1 billion in new investment in the American shipbuilding industrial base.
In 2025, Davie Defense acquired Gulf Copper's shipbuilding assets in Texas – revitalizing American shipbuilding capabilities and creating new opportunities for thousands of American workers. A groundbreaking ceremony for the development of the Gulf Copper facilities will be held in Galveston on June 1, 2026.
The first ship is expected to be delivered in 2028, with deliveries continuing through February 2035. The program's completion marks a significant milestone in the U.S. government's efforts to expand its Arctic fleet and deliver critical capability in this region.
The expansion of the U.S. Coast Guard's Arctic fleet is seen as a strategic move to ensure global security and economic resilience. The vessels will play a key role in maintaining freedom of navigation and access to the region's natural resources.
As the U.S. Coast Guard continues to expand its presence in the Arctic, it is clear that Davie Defense's expertise in Arctic shipbuilding will be crucial to supporting this effort.
The U.S. Coast Guard's expansion into the Arctic region is a strategic move to ensure global security and economic resilience.
