Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — Today the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on the Coast Guard’s capabilities in the Arctic region, as U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) had requested earlier this year. Larsen called for the hearing due to concerns that the Coast Guard’s polar icebreaking fleet is ill-equipped to meet the challenges posed by declining Arctic sea ice, increasing vessel traffic and international interest in the region’s oil and gas resources.

“A coherent Arctic policy and a strong Arctic icebreaking fleet are more critical now than ever before,” said Larsen. “But despite the Coast Guard’s best efforts to prepare for the challenges we face, they currently lack the tools needed to perform even the most basic Arctic operations -- conducting patrols and breaking ice. Nations from around the world are racing to protect their interests in the Arctic region, and right now the United States is in last place.”

At today’s hearing, Larsen heard testimony from Admiral Allen, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and other witnesses. All three of the Coast Guard’s icebreaking vessels are homeported in Seattle.

The text of Larsen’s opening statement as prepared for delivery follows:

“Mr. Chairman, I would like to start by thanking you for holding this hearing.  As you know, I requested that this Committee hold a hearing on the Coast Guard’s polar icebreaking fleet.  I am very interested to hear from the Coast Guard on this issue, and I hope that it will be a productive and informative hearing. 

“I have serious concerns with the future of the Coast Guard’s polar icebreaking fleet.  Two of the three multi-mission icebreakers, the Polar Sea and the Polar Star – both of which are home-ported in Seattle – are nearing the end of their service lives.  The Polar Star is in caretaker status and is close to being decommissioned. 

“Our nation’s icebreaking capability has been diminished substantially, at a time when these icebreakers are needed more than ever.  It is expected that vessel traffic in the Arctic Ocean will increase dramatically as Arctic sea ice continues to decline.  More maritime traffic, especially in such challenging conditions, will require an increased Coast Guard presence.  I am concerned that the Coast Guard does not have the resources and assets it needs to carry out increased operations in this region. 

“I know that Admiral Allen has paid quite a bit of attention to this issue over the past few years, and that the Coast Guard is currently conducting several Arctic initiatives, including Arctic Domain Awareness flights, testing of a seasonal Arctic forward operating location, waterways analysis, and risk assessments. 

“However, despite the Coast Guard’s best efforts to prepare for future operations in the Arctic region, they do not currently have the assets and the capability necessary to perform the most basic of Arctic operations:  conducting patrols and icebreaking.  The Coast Guard doesn’t even have budgetary and management control over its polar icebreaking fleet. 

“Mr. Chairman, these are serious issues that demand our attention.  Once again, thank you for holding this hearing, and I look forward to hearing from our witnesses.”