The Polar Security-class vessels will be designed to conduct search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, environmental response and national defense patrols missions in areas often covered in heavy ice.
Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan said Antarctic policy likely will shift the future icebreaker away from the Arctic missions it should be used for, the Alaska Journal of Commerce reported.
The Polar Security Cutters are designed to conduct search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, environmental response and national defense patrol missions in often frozen waters.