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CG commandant: Icebreaking fleet stressed

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen told lawmakers he is concerned about the future of the polar ice-breaking fleet, saying it will take millions of dollars to keep the aging ships operational.

Allen told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday that the continued melting of the Arctic ice caps, an increase in oil exploration and additional shipping and cruise routes in the polar region is taxing the fleet.

“The Coast Guard ice-breaking fleet provides significant service to Americans. ... It’s imperative to obtain the current validating capabilities so our polar operations can be met,” Allen said. “I’m concerned we are watching our nation’s ice-breaking capabilities decline.”

The Coast Guard’s medium- and Polar-class ice breaking fleet consists of the cutters Healy, Polar Sea and Polar Star. Healy — commissioned in 2000 — is the newest of the ships and is primarily designed for Arctic scientific research. The Polar Star and Polar Sea, both commissioned in the 1970s, are well past their prime and need millions of dollars in maintenance and repairs to remain operational into the future.

The Polar Sea’s life expectancy was extended to 2014 thanks to a major overhaul in 2006, but the Polar Star has been laid up for at least two years and requires 12 to 18 months’ lead time, as well as an estimated $60 million for a “significant overhaul,” to return to full operational status.

In the meantime, it costs about $3 million a year just keep the vessel in caretaker status, and because it hasn’t moved from the dock for several years, Allen said he was worried about corrosion.

“I’m concerned the Coast Guard does not have the assets needed to keep up its mission. We are in a five-nation race for the Arctic, and right now we are running fifth,” Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., said during the hearing.

Russia is the only other country with polar ice breaking capabilities, Allen said, but the Russian fleet is in far better shape, with “seven to eight” nuclear-powered polar ice breakers.

Part of the problem, Allen said, is that the Coast Guard does not have budgetary control over its entire fleet. The Homeland Security’s Appropriation Act transferred the Coast Guard’s $47.5 million budget authority for polar ice breaking to the National Science Foundation. Since then, NSF has said it does not plan to use the Polar Sea for the breakout of the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, and it does not plan to provide funding to keep the Polar Star in caretaker status, Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, said.

“I am concerned about the service’s three polar class ice breakers and the continued transfer of budgetary authority for these vessels to the National Science Foundation. This arrangement leaves Coast Guard crews and operations dependent on decisions that are made outside of the service,” LaTourette said.