(The Center Square) − Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards has been chosen to lead the construction of a new fleet of Arctic Security Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard, a major defense contract announced Wednesday at the White House.

Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois called the announcement “a pivotal moment” for the state’s shipbuilding industry and for America’s effort to reshore critical defense manufacturing.

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“This contract is more than a win for Bollinger – it’s a win for Louisiana’s workforce and for the future of American manufacturing,” Landry and Bourgeois said in a joint statement. “For generations, Bollinger has turned craftsmanship into cutting-edge capability, and this project continues that legacy on a global stage.”

They credited President Donald Trump’s administration for prioritizing Arctic defense and reaffirmed Louisiana’s commitment to supporting the industrial expansion required to sustain it. 

Under the deal, Bollinger will partner with Rauma Marine Constructions of Finland, Seaspan Shipyards of Canada, and Aker Arctic Technology Inc. to design and build six state-of-the-art icebreaking vessels capable of navigating some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Construction will begin immediately in both Finland and the United States, with production eventually shifting entirely to Bollinger’s facilities in Louisiana.

The first three ships will be built concurrently at Rauma’s Finnish shipyard and Bollinger’s Louisiana facilities, expediting early delivery and providing a foundation for full U.S.-based production. The final three vessels will be constructed entirely in the United States. Delivery of the first ships is expected within three years of the contract award.

The Arctic Security Cutter program is part of a broader federal initiative to rebuild U.S. polar capacity under President Trump’s administration.

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According to Bollinger, the new vessels will give the Coast Guard the ability to operate year-round in the Arctic, supporting missions that range from national defense and scientific research to emergency response and search-and-rescue operations.

Each cutter will be capable of breaking through four feet of solid ice, traveling 12,000 nautical miles without refueling, and sustaining 60-day missions in extreme conditions.