War on the Rocks
Can ICE Pact Salvage American Shipbuilding?
Sep 19, 2024
Ryan, an expert in shipbuilding and the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, discusses the trilateral ICE Pact among the U.S., Canada, and Finland aimed at enhancing American icebreaker capabilities. He highlights the strategic necessity of icebreakers for Arctic access and the inadequacies of the current U.S. fleet compared to Russia and China. The conversation touches on funding challenges for the Coast Guard and the urgency of revitalizing domestic shipbuilding through international partnerships. Ryan also emphasizes the role of innovation and bipartisan support in strengthening U.S. maritime power.
32:59
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Quick takeaways
- The ICE Pact represents a strategic trilateral partnership aimed at enhancing U.S. icebreaker capabilities and revitalizing its shipbuilding industry.
- Reviving American shipbuilding is not only an economic imperative but also a critical national security concern in the Arctic context.
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Strategic Importance of Icebreakers
Icebreakers are crucial for ensuring year-round access to the Arctic, enabling the projection of power, conducting scientific research, and facilitating marine environmental responses. Without sufficient icebreaker capability, national security interests in the region are compromised, particularly given the current U.S. fleet of only 1.5 operational icebreakers. The existing vessels, the medium-class Coast Guard Cutter Healy and the aging heavy icebreaker Polar Star, have not been replaced domestically in nearly five decades. This atrophy underscores the urgency of increasing the icebreaker fleet to maintain presence and capability in the strategic Arctic theater.
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