Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Program: Background and Issues for Congress Page: 3 of 74
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Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Program: Background and Issues for Congress
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Background. ..................................................................................................................................... 1
M issions of U.S. Polar Icebreakers ........................................................................................ 1
Current U.S. Polar Icebreakers............................................................................................. 2
Three Coast Guard Ships ................................................................................................. 2
One National Science Foundation Ship .......................................................................... 5
Summary............................................................................................................................. 6
Required Num bers of U.S. Polar Icebreakers ........................................................................ 6
June 2013 DHS Polar Icebreaker Mission Need Statement........................................... 6
Coast Guard Testim ony.................................................................................................... 8
October 2016 Coast Guard Request for Inform ation (RFI) ............................................. 9
Coast Guard Not Able to Address All Polar Icebreaking Requests................... 9
Polar Icebreakers Operated by Other Countries ............................................................. 9
Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Program .................................................................................. 9
Overview............................................................................................................................. 9
Desired Capabilities for New Polar Icebreaker..................................................................11
Notional Program Schedule .............................................................................................. 12
Acquisition Cost ............................................................................................................... 12
Program Funding .............................................................................................................. 13
Contract Type.................................................................................................................... 13
Recent Acquisition Actions........................................................................................... 13
Foreign Cooperation and Participation ............................................................................15
Issues for Congress........................................................................................................................ 16
FY2019 Funding Request ................................................................................................... 16
Contract with Options vs. Block Buy Contract.................................................................... 17
Funding Coast Guard Polar Icebreakers Through Navy's Shipbuilding Account............18
Common Design for Heavy and Medium Polar Icebreakers .................................................. 20
Building Polar Icebreakers in Foreign Shipyards ............................................................... 22
Laws Relating to Building Ships in Foreign Shipyards ................................................ 23
October 2017 Press Report .......................................................................................... 24
Short-Term Bridge to One or More New Polar Icebreakers ................................................... 25
Overview........................................................................................................................... 25
Chartering an Icebreaker............................................................................................... 26
Acquisition vs. Leasing........................................................................................................... 30
Legislative Activity for FY2019............................................................................................... 30
Summary of Appropriation Action on FY2019 Funding Request.......................30
Legislative Activity for FY2018............................................................................................... 31
Summary of Appropriation Action on FY2018 Funding Request.......................31
FY2018 DH S Appropriations Act (H.R. 3355/S. XXXX).................................................. 31
House ................................................................................................................................ 31
Senate................................................................................................................................ 32
FY2018 DHS Appropriations Act (Division E of H.R. 3354).............................................. 33
House ................................................................................................................................ 33
FY2018 DHS Appropriations Act (Division F of H.R. 1625/P.L. 115-141)...............33
Conference ........................................................................................................................ 33Congressional Research Service
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O'Rourke, Ronald. Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Program: Background and Issues for Congress, report, April 18, 2018; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1156975/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.