U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, is urging the U.S. Coast Guard to make Maine a homeport for its next-generation icebreakers, also known as cutters.
King, who co-chairs the Senate Arctic Caucus, said deep-water ports in either Portland or Eastport would be an ideal base of operations for the vessels.
“Maine is the closest point in the continental United States to the Arctic, giving an Atlantic-based cutter the shortest transit to its operating areas,” King wrote in a letter to Adm. Kevin Lunday.
“No other state offers this combination of Arctic proximity, deep-water access, shipbuilding and repair capacity, and Arctic expertise, and Maine is ready to deliver for the service and its crews.”
Delivery of the first three vessels is expected in 2028, and those will be based in Alaska, the Coast Guard announced last month.
Contracts for building the vessels have been awarded to two U.S. shipbuilders — Bollinger, which is based in Louisiana, and Texas-based Davie Defense, which has a sister facility in Helsinki, Finland.
“The decision to build out an 11-ship fleet is a generational investment in American presence in the high latitudes, and Maine offers the Coast Guard an ideal Atlantic homeport from which to project that presence,” King wrote.
Deep-water harbors
Maine’s deep-water harbors also offer reliable year-round access, King noted in his letter.
“From Portland, with its established working waterfront and supporting infrastructure, to Eastport, the deepest natural seaport on the East Coast,” he argued.
The Coast Guard Sector Northern New England is headquartered in South Portland, with additional stations along Maine’s coast.
King cited Maine’s Arctic and maritime expertise, writing, “Maine also brings an ecosystem built to sustain these vessels over their decades of service.
“The University of Maine is a national leader in Arctic research and Maine Maritime Academy offers deep expertise in maritime operations and a natural link to the service’s Arctic mission,” the lawmaker continued. “Together they reflect a statewide maritime culture the Coast Guard can draw on for partnership, training and regional support.”
King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. He recently secured key provisions in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act to support the maritime forces.
