Future of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Policy Bryler Barnhill Global Studies and Maritime Affairs California State University Maritime Academy Abstract The Arctic has become an emerging region of importance on the international stage. Climate change in the region has led to the diminishing of perennial ice, opening the Arctic for nations to capitalize on the untapped resources held in the area. Actions from the Russian Federation have only increased as they have become the most dominant force in the Arctic. The People’s Republic of China, while not being an Arctic state has also increased their presence in the Arctic in recent years. Implications from international actors in the Arctic has led to increased interest by the United States and the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard’s old and outdated icebreaking fleet needs an upgrade to supplement the Coast Guard’s increasing role. Proper acquisition of funding for the Polar Security Cutter program and future assets is needed. Recommendations for the expediting of the Polar Security Program and the development of the United State’s own nuclear-powered icebreaker is needed to meet the ever-increasing demands of the Arctic environment. Current Coast Guard Icebreaker Fleet Arctic Implications from Russia and China

Photo by Reuters Russia has become the dominant nation in the Arctic region with a total of forty-six U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class George Degener icebreakers, six of which are nuclear. Their proactive Arctic policy allows them to continue to procure the funding to expand their Arctic fleet. Recently in early 2019, The Coast Guard’s icebreaking history goes back to the services roots as the Russia launched a nuclear icebreaker known as the Ural. The Ural can operate in Revenue Cutter Service. The long-standing Arctic icebreaking mission is Photo by VT Halter Marine ice of up to 10 feet in thickness and displaces 33,000 tons. Russia plans to utilize currently supported with the remaining active fleet consisting of the Coast Guard the Ural and their other icebreakers to support the opening of the Northern Sea Cutter Polar Star and Cutter Healy. Commissioned in 1976, the Polar Star is the Polar Security Cutter Program and the Route. Russia is heavily invested in the utilization of Arctic sea routes and as sea only heavy icebreaker in the United States icebreaking fleet. The Polar Star is 399 ice continues to melt, the Arctic will be a more viable option for shipping. feet long, with a displacement of over 13,000 tons, and can break up to six and a Arctic Strategic Outlook half feet of ice. Commissioned in 2000, the Coast Guard Cutter Healy is the most The current Coast Guard polar icebreaker fleet is a reflection of the past and does not meet the demands recent polar icebreaker in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The Healy is a medium of the emerging Arctic region. Aligning with the demands and the increased interest surrounding the icebreaker, measuring in at 420 feet, with a displacement of 16,000 tons, and can region, the Coast Guard introduced their Arctic Strategic Outlook in early 2019. The strategy outlines break up to four and a half feet of ice. the increased competition and how the Coast Guard plans on improving their Arctic reach. The main takeaway from the strategy is the goal to increase their Arctic operational capability. To do this the Coast Guard introduced their Polar Security Program, a plan to introduce six new Polar Security Cutters. This will include three heavy and three medium, to supplement and eventually replace the current polar icebreaking fleet. The heavy Polar Security Cutters through their modern designs and characteristics will be able to outperform the current fleet. The design features a larger icebreaker at total length of 460 feet, with a displacement of 22,900 tons. Construction has been approved for the first Polar Security Cutter, which is scheduled to begin building in 2021.

Photo by Xinhua

Data provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center Further Information China while not being an Arctic state has started to invest in the Arctic through its Increasing temperature in the Arctic has led to an effect called the ice-albedo acquisition and development of Arctic focused assets. In 2013, China was inducted feedback loop, a melting cycle that causes the thinning of Arctic sea ice. The Recommendations for the United States to continue to support the Coast Guard’s Arctic into the Arctic Council as an observer, allowing them to sit in on the council's Arctic sea ice reflects solar radiation, resulting in the decrease of perennial Arctic operations are vital for the future of the United States in the Arctic. Proper funding is needed meetings. China released an Arctic policy in 2018 detailing their plans to utilize ice. There has been a drastic reduction in the perennial ice, in 1984 there was a to support the Coast Guard’s operational goals in the Arctic. Expediting the Polar Security Arctic sea routes. In 2018 China also launched their second icebreaker, their first to total of 1.16 million square miles of perennial ice and in 2016 there was only Cutter program is recommended to meet the demands of the emerging region and match other be domestically built, the Xuelong 2. The Xuelong 2 is the start of their project to 68,000 square miles. The ongoing loss of sea ice extent will continue to lead to nations Arctic capabilities. A push by Coast Guard leadership to also design and develop a expand Chinese power in the Arctic as China has announced plans to build a the expansion of the Arctic for use of its resources. The Arctic yields increased nuclear-powered icebreaker to be able to compete with other dominant Arctic actors is nuclear-powered icebreaker. Through their expanding Arctic fleet China will be routes for maritime shipping and resources including oil, gas, fisheries and needed. Procurement of funding should be done through the Department of Defense under the able to access polar shipping routes and research the resource potential the Arctic minerals. Navy’s appropriation account. The Coast Guard and the Navy have a history of working with holds. each other to fund Coast Guard programs. The United States future in the Arctic is dependent on the resources made available to the Coast Guard allowing the agency to meet their operational goals and safeguard U.S. Arctic policies and presence.