Congress authorizes new Arctic icebreakers for Coast Guard
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Dec 15, 2020 at 9:44 am EDT
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Congress has passed a bill authorizing the addition of Coast Guard Polar Security Cutters for use as icebreakers, and an Alaska senator said the Trump administration is considering leasing an icebreaker owned by a Republican donor.
The Coast Guard has two icebreakers, but only one is operating following an August fire that damaged the USS Healy. Ongoing construction work on a new icebreaker is not expected to be finished until 2024.
The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act is part of the National Defence Authorization Act passed by Congress for Fiscal Year 2021.