U.S. Coast Guard awards $746 million icebreaker contract to VT Halter Marine

摘要

The Coast Guard's long drive to recapitalize its icebreaking capability took a major step forward with the award in April of a $746 million contract to VT Halter Marine Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., for the first polar security cutter (PSC). The full program could be worth $ 1.9 billion with the exercise of options to build two additional PSCs, replacements for the 399'x83'6"x31' Polar Star, the last of two heavy icebreakers built in the mid-1970s. The initial contract is for engineering and detail design of the PSC class as well as procurement of long lead-time materials and construction of the first ship.