
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz said the service will award the construction contract this spring for the first new heavy icebreaker in more than 40 years. The Coast Guard eventually plans to acquire at least three Polar Security Cutters (PSC) as part of its requirement for six new icebreakers to operate in the polar regions. The other ships would be medium icebreakers. The Coast Guard currently has one heavy icebreaker, the 43-year old Polar Star, which is in frequent…