As Finnish President Alexander Stubb and US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on icebreaker cooperation in Washington on 9 October 2025, a new era for Finnish shipbuilding was launched in earnest. Finland and the United States will dive deeper in their cooperation in the design and construction of icebreakers: the US is procuring 11 new icebreakers for its Coast Guard, four of which are planned to be constructed in Finland.
This marks the first time the United States is building icebreakers in another country – a strong vote of confidence for Finnish maritime industry if there ever was one. This cooperation is also in line with the trilateral Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) between Finland, the United States, and Canada.
More news soon followed: at the end of December, Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) announced that it has been awarded a contract by the United States Coast Guard for the construction of two Arctic Security Cutters (ASC). The contract will deliver the first two ASCs, with construction of the vessels beginning immediately.
“The icebreakers will be built
at the Rauma shipyard and
will be completed in 2028.
Mika Nieminen, CEO at Rauma Marine Constructions, comments that the awarded contract marks a historic milestone. According to Nieminen, the deal demonstrates great confidence in RMC and in the Finnish maritime industry network. Nieminen serves also as the Chairman of the Board of the Finnish Marine Industries, so he’s well in tune with the developments of the sector.
“We secured this significant deal thanks to our expertise and capability to build the ships within the required timeframe. Our fast delivery times make us the most affordable option on the market,” Nieminen says, adding that now it is time for the shipyard and its network to prove themselves.
photo: ELMERI ELO
Cutter delivery in 2028
The icebreakers will be built at the Rauma shipyard and will be completed in 2028. Satakunta University of Applied Sciences is participating in the project as a training partner.
“Our focus is straightforward: execute with discipline, manage risk rigorously, and deliver two cutters that are ready to operate in the world’s harshest maritime environment from day one,” Nieminen lays out the plan.
“Our fast delivery times
make us the most affordable
option on the market.
RMC’s role is central in the ASC program which emphasizes schedule certainty, low technical risk, and the use of a mature, production-ready design to meet the Coast Guard’s urgent operational requirements. Under the contract, RMC will construct the cutters based on the proven Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) design, developed by Seaspan Shipyards in collaboration with Aker Arctic Technology. The vessels will be built in cooperation with the US shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards.
Powerful partnership
The foundation for the deal was formed last summer, as Rauma Shipyards, Bollinger Shipyards, Seaspan Shipyards and Aker Arctic came together to form of a strategic partnership to deliver Arctic Security Cutters to the US Coast Guard. This strategic partnership was seen to represent a deliberate effort to strengthen the US industrial base and expand America’s shipbuilding capacity. It is in the interest of the USA, after all, to learn how to make icebreakers in the American shipyards, too.
In fact, Bollinger – the largest privately-owned shipbuilder in the US – is already building the first heavy icebreaker in the United States in 50 years. Furthermore, American owned, Canada-based Seaspan Shipyards – a leading icebreaker design and build shipyard – is currently sitting on the largest order book of ice capable vessels in the world.
The two Finnish companies of the foursome, however, have even more icebreaking expertise to bring to the table. While Rauma Marine Constructions is a leading European shipbuilder specializing in ice-capable vessels and naval platforms, Aker Arctic is a respected authority in icebreaking technology and design, having “fathered” the majority of the icebreaker designs currently in operation today.
Meeting the moment
The strategic partnership leverages the trilateral ICE Pact framework to build a modernized U.S. icebreaking fleet.
As the partnership was forged, Mika Nieminen stated that this strategic collaboration presents “a unique opportunity” to apply the shipyard’s proven capabilities in support of the US Coast Guard’s Arctic mission. According to Nieminen, the key to speedy delivery lies in leveraging a mature design and deep experience in building technically complex vessels for operation in severe winter conditions.
“With a fully operational production line and world-class facilities, we bring reliability and results – not projections. Beyond construction, Rauma provides added value through crew training, bridge simulator programs, and ice trials to support successful commissioning and elevates the technological and operational capabilities,” Nieminen commented.
“Rauma provides added value
through crew training,
bridge simulator programs, and ice trials.
Fantastic Four
Rauma
Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) is a leading European shipbuilder specializing in ice-capable vessels and naval platforms. Based in Rauma, Finland, RMC combines advanced engineering, modern facilities, and proven Arctic experience to deliver mission-critical ships on time and to specification.
Aker Arctic Technology
Aker Arctic is the only company in the world focusing on icebreaker and ice-going vessel design and testing. In the past twenty years, 59 icebreaking ships have been built in various shipyards based on its designs.
Bollinger
Bollinger Shipyards has an 80-year history as a leading designer and builder of e.g. high-performance military patrol boats and salvage vessels, research vessels, ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tugboats, rigs and lift boats, operating out of its new construction shipyards as part of the U. S. industrial base.
Seaspan
Seaspan is a leader in Canada’s ship design, engineering, building and ship repair industry. With modern facilities in North Vancouver and Victoria, the company has delivered complex projects for both government and the private sector.
| What is Arctic Security Cutter Program? The Arctic Security Cutter is a new class of US Coast Guard medium polar icebreakers that will address urgent national security needs in the Arctic region. ASCs will be capable of continuous icebreaking in heavy Arctic conditions, extended independent operations without resupply, and long-range deployment. |
by: SAMI J. ANTEROINEN
photos: RAUMA MARINE CONSTRUCTIONS
