Which countries could the US rely on to progress with its shipbuilding programmes?
USCG Polar Star is the last heavy icebreaker built in the US and has been in operation for around 50 years. (Photo: US Coast Guard)
The US Navy and US Coast Guard (USCG) are in critical need of support to build icebreakers, surface vessels and submarines.
The need to rapidly advance the schedule of its shipbuilding programmes might lead the US towards building vessels and submarines abroad, which has raised questions about which countries the Pentagon could rely on.
Speaking to Shephard, Bob Kolasky, SVP of critical infrastructure at AI supply chain company Exiger, claimed that the current state of the national maritime industry requires “working with allies like Canada and Finland”.
“Canada can provide offshore, ship repair and maintenance services to support fleets, and Finland can produce icebreakers, which has been an issue for the USCG,” Kolasky said.
The last heavy icebreaker built in the
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![UK and France signal shift to autonomous helicopters to boost naval power]()
UK and France signal shift to autonomous helicopters to boost naval power
Recent developments in France and the UK highlight how autonomous helicopters are becoming central to naval force design as navies seek to integrate crewed and uncrewed systems at sea.
-
![US Coast Guard’s small response boat demonstrators to be delivered in three months]()
US Coast Guard’s small response boat demonstrators to be delivered in three months
The platforms will be tested in multiple missions to define performance requirements for a coming acquisition programme.
-
![What HII’s UK expansion could mean for Royal Navy’s uncrewed future]()
What HII’s UK expansion could mean for Royal Navy’s uncrewed future
As HII prepares to deliver its latest AI-enabled uncrewed surface vessel later this year, its major UK facility expansion aligns with the UK Royal Navy’s plans for a hybrid fleet.
