Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress Page: 15 of 62
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Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress
Table 2. Major Icebreakers Around the World
(as of May 21, 2015)
Total all In inventory, government owned or In inventory, privately owned and
types, in operated operated
inventory (+
under 45,000 or 20,000 to 10,000 to 45,000 or 20,000 to 10,000 to
construction more 44,999 19,999 more 44,999 19,999
+ planned) BHP BHP BHP BHP BHP BHP
Russia 41 (+5 +6) 6 (all 6 7 13 9
nuclear
powered; 4
operational)
Finland 7(+0+1) 6 I
Sweden 6 4 2
Canada 6(+0+1) 2 4
United States 5 (+0 +1) 2 (Polar Star I (Healy) I (Aiviq- I (Palmer)
and Polar built for
Sea-Polar Shell Oil)
Sea not
operational)
Denmark 4 4
Estonia 2 2
Norway I (+0+1)
Germany I (+0 +1)
China I (+0 +1)
Japan I
Australia I
Chile I
Latvia I
South Korea I
South Africa I
Argentina I I (not
operational)
Source: Table prepared by CRS based on U.S. Coast Guard chart showing data compiled by the Coast Guard as
of May 21, 2015. The table also lists the United Kingdom as planning one new polar research vessel.
Notes: Includes some icebreakers designed for use in the Baltic Sea. BHP = the brake horsepower of the ship's
power plant. A ship with 45,000 or more BHP might be considered a heavy polar icebreaker, a ship with 20,000
to 44,999 BHP might be considered a medium polar icebreaker, and a ship with 10,000 to 19,999 BHP might be
considered a light polar icebreaker or an ice-capable polar ship.
Desired Capabilities for New Polar Icebreaker
The Coast Guard's key performance parameters (KPPs) for a new polar icebreaker include the
following:
* an ability to break through 6 feet of ice at 3 knots (threshold) or 8 feet of ice at
three knots (objective);29
29 The terms threshold and objective are acquisition terms. Threshold can be translated roughly as minimum required
(continued...)Congressional Research Service
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O'Rourke, Ronald. Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress, report, August 15, 2017; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1020882/m1/15/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.