I was a US Navy Commander. Under my purview, I had Shipyards at Sturgeon Bay and Marinette, WI and Savannah, GA. That was thirty-six years ago. It was also toward the end of the Mine Hunter and Mine Countermeasure classes of ships delivery cycle. The problem is that thirty-five years old ship built by shipyards which have tooled up to build different classes of ships always fail to manufacture repair parts for obsolete platforms. One yard (Peterson Builders is no longer in business). I'm sure the ships desperately need to be replaced.
I was also on the LCS ship program which has replaced some of the tasks of the MHC, MCM classes and the LCS ships were also manufactured thirty-five plus years!
I'm just a guy. A guy who devours history. When the US began shipping our industry out of the country, building an "international supply chain and distributed industrial capabilities" where portions of fighters and bomber were produced in separate countries and then assembled in the US, shipbuilding was outsourced to other countries, our steel making capacities crumbled, our mining of critical minerals was drastically curtailed or abandoned, when the US military and commercial markets became dependent on other countries, I thought, "What happens when another world war breaks out and we no longer have unrestricted imports?" The "arsenal" of the Free World in WWII was able to outproduce the whole of the Axis Powers and supply our allies with the goods and materials necessary to defeat the Nazis and Japanese. At present, we can't supply our own needs should a peer-to-peer conflict break out. That the politicians allowed this to happen shows the degraded status of our political classes. The number one function of government is to protect its citizens. Will our enemies (not just "adversaries") allow us enough time to retool and rearm?
Intentional degradation? ☮️✌🏻So many of the political class have no idea or respect for the fact that peace comes through strength. The “leading from behind”philosophy is total leftist nonsense that makes us technologically vulnerable, physically weak and militarily unprepared.
Time to retool? Probably not! We used to have TWO OPLANS (Operational Plans). Although we had numerous CONPLANS (Concept Plans). Of the OPLANS, one was North Korea and One was the Middle East. Our plans were designed to be able to engage both OPLANS (fight two wars) simultaneously. This was late 1990s. I suppose today, 'we' are considering Ukraine one and Iran the other although neither are really serious wartime engagements, especially Iran the way we are "fighting" there and OBVIOUSLY Ukraine doesn't fit the category of military operational theatres. I believe in my heart that we would be in severe stress IF another operation 'entanglement' started right now. We have spent a substantial percentage of our weaponry in Ukraine. One very overwhelming reason why I have been opposed to the extent we are 'involved' in Ukraine (he other I the tax dollars wasted there because I am CERTAIN there have been Billions of dollars embezzled there.
During that period when we had two functioning icebreakers, there was a storm that shut down Alaskan ports. Communities were running out of supplies and they needed an icebreaker to get in. I was really appalled by it and nothing was done.
Thank you for this story. I had no idea! Whether it's assumptions that "someone in charge is covering all bases" to misdirection and waste of taxpayer money on railways to nowhere, etc., we've been lulled into false security. Our grid needs to be rebuilt, not patched up. There are energy alternatives, and it's not disgusting acres of solar panels and alien-looking monstrous windmills, none of which can be recycled when they die, AND, they're made in China. Mike Rowe, get those young men and women trained up FAST!
I heard that Elon is uploading all the engineering history of Tesla, Spacex, Boring, Neuralink, et al, into Grok training data. AI advances in engineering efficiency and productivity can't add new welders but will certainly advance automation and robotics. As in other contexts, AI can also enhance the efficiency of the meatspace. It can help train new entrants and work alongside journeymen as a loyal wingman. None of it solves immediate Arctic access, but it does bode well for long-term shipbuilding.
Another reason why America First must win the Mid-term elections. Somehow the American public must be made aware of the urgent need to rebuild American manufacturing, including the ship-building industry. Back in wartime, that was the function of the news media. Today?
I'm certain you realize that this and your previous articles on shipbuilding has had an impact on decisions made at the White House. I just read a 13 August 2026 White House Fact Sheet on Rebuilding the US Navy and the American Shipbuilding Industry. It specifically addresses Tax Cuts included nearly $9 billion to build a series of heavy, medium, and light arctic security cutters (ASCs).
In October 2025, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to authorize the construction of up to four ASCs abroad to address urgent national security needs in the Arctic region.
I am a retired US Navy Commander. I had two tours during my career which involved working with shipyards to prepare for, inspect and deliver new construction ships. Those two tours were about twenty years apart. During the second tour it was painfully obvious that our shipbuilding Industry had reduced significantly in numbers of yards, quality workmanship and on time deliveries. Even after delays, new construction ships were failing delivery inspections because the ships were not 'ready for sea'. Your articles were right on target not only regarding ice cutters but across the entire Man of War inventory. I very much appreciated reading them and encouraged that we are FINALLY doing something about this dismally degrading industrial capacity which significantly effects our National Security.
What effect has the Jones Act had on this country’s ship building industry? Need I ask. Will building this fleet of ice breakers go around the jones act?
Your question prompted me because I was thinking I heard about this on the YouTube channel, "What Is Going On With Shipping?"
I thought I had heard on there that he Jones act was temporarily suspended. I was correct and curious what Grok said:
The Jones Act is a 1920 law that requires cargo moving between U.S. ports to be carried on ships that are built, owned, and crewed by Americans. It's a protectionist measure meant to support the domestic maritime industry. Right now, it's not fully in effect. President Trump extended a waiver just yesterday for another 90 days, running through mid-November. The waiver was originally issued in March due to the Iran war disruptions and has been the longest suspension in the law's history. This latest version is narrower than before, covering mostly energy commodities and fertilizers, and each voyage now needs case-by-case approval rather than a blanket exemption.
“You might ask why the United States does not simply build all eleven here and skip the Finnish step.” Actually, I would ask, what exactly do we need all those icebreakers for? In the commercial arena, is there lot of shipping planned to and from ports that freeze out in winter? Or are these ships primarily to bring mined minerals out from Greenland, Iceland, wherever? If so, are the mining companies picking up a significant portion of the ice breaker cost?
In the military arena, similar question. In an age of GPS guided missiles, drones, the DEW line, etc, how exactly do ice breakers fit into current military strategy?
OK. Thx Double Mc. Thought it was something like that, but hadn't personally seen any reporting on the overall strategy. Some of my slightly TDS afflicted friends were on and on about what a stupid waste of money the icebreakers were. So when I saw this article, was hoping for bit more context.
Alaska and the new states of Greenland and Canada seem like promising locations for expansion. Also, we need mine sweepers...yesterday.
I was a US Navy Commander. Under my purview, I had Shipyards at Sturgeon Bay and Marinette, WI and Savannah, GA. That was thirty-six years ago. It was also toward the end of the Mine Hunter and Mine Countermeasure classes of ships delivery cycle. The problem is that thirty-five years old ship built by shipyards which have tooled up to build different classes of ships always fail to manufacture repair parts for obsolete platforms. One yard (Peterson Builders is no longer in business). I'm sure the ships desperately need to be replaced.
I was also on the LCS ship program which has replaced some of the tasks of the MHC, MCM classes and the LCS ships were also manufactured thirty-five plus years!
I'm just a guy. A guy who devours history. When the US began shipping our industry out of the country, building an "international supply chain and distributed industrial capabilities" where portions of fighters and bomber were produced in separate countries and then assembled in the US, shipbuilding was outsourced to other countries, our steel making capacities crumbled, our mining of critical minerals was drastically curtailed or abandoned, when the US military and commercial markets became dependent on other countries, I thought, "What happens when another world war breaks out and we no longer have unrestricted imports?" The "arsenal" of the Free World in WWII was able to outproduce the whole of the Axis Powers and supply our allies with the goods and materials necessary to defeat the Nazis and Japanese. At present, we can't supply our own needs should a peer-to-peer conflict break out. That the politicians allowed this to happen shows the degraded status of our political classes. The number one function of government is to protect its citizens. Will our enemies (not just "adversaries") allow us enough time to retool and rearm?
Intentional degradation? ☮️✌🏻So many of the political class have no idea or respect for the fact that peace comes through strength. The “leading from behind”philosophy is total leftist nonsense that makes us technologically vulnerable, physically weak and militarily unprepared.
Time to retool? Probably not! We used to have TWO OPLANS (Operational Plans). Although we had numerous CONPLANS (Concept Plans). Of the OPLANS, one was North Korea and One was the Middle East. Our plans were designed to be able to engage both OPLANS (fight two wars) simultaneously. This was late 1990s. I suppose today, 'we' are considering Ukraine one and Iran the other although neither are really serious wartime engagements, especially Iran the way we are "fighting" there and OBVIOUSLY Ukraine doesn't fit the category of military operational theatres. I believe in my heart that we would be in severe stress IF another operation 'entanglement' started right now. We have spent a substantial percentage of our weaponry in Ukraine. One very overwhelming reason why I have been opposed to the extent we are 'involved' in Ukraine (he other I the tax dollars wasted there because I am CERTAIN there have been Billions of dollars embezzled there.
During that period when we had two functioning icebreakers, there was a storm that shut down Alaskan ports. Communities were running out of supplies and they needed an icebreaker to get in. I was really appalled by it and nothing was done.
Maybe vote Murkowski out next election
Thank you for this story. I had no idea! Whether it's assumptions that "someone in charge is covering all bases" to misdirection and waste of taxpayer money on railways to nowhere, etc., we've been lulled into false security. Our grid needs to be rebuilt, not patched up. There are energy alternatives, and it's not disgusting acres of solar panels and alien-looking monstrous windmills, none of which can be recycled when they die, AND, they're made in China. Mike Rowe, get those young men and women trained up FAST!
I heard that Elon is uploading all the engineering history of Tesla, Spacex, Boring, Neuralink, et al, into Grok training data. AI advances in engineering efficiency and productivity can't add new welders but will certainly advance automation and robotics. As in other contexts, AI can also enhance the efficiency of the meatspace. It can help train new entrants and work alongside journeymen as a loyal wingman. None of it solves immediate Arctic access, but it does bode well for long-term shipbuilding.
Another reason why America First must win the Mid-term elections. Somehow the American public must be made aware of the urgent need to rebuild American manufacturing, including the ship-building industry. Back in wartime, that was the function of the news media. Today?
I'm certain you realize that this and your previous articles on shipbuilding has had an impact on decisions made at the White House. I just read a 13 August 2026 White House Fact Sheet on Rebuilding the US Navy and the American Shipbuilding Industry. It specifically addresses Tax Cuts included nearly $9 billion to build a series of heavy, medium, and light arctic security cutters (ASCs).
In October 2025, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to authorize the construction of up to four ASCs abroad to address urgent national security needs in the Arctic region.
I am a retired US Navy Commander. I had two tours during my career which involved working with shipyards to prepare for, inspect and deliver new construction ships. Those two tours were about twenty years apart. During the second tour it was painfully obvious that our shipbuilding Industry had reduced significantly in numbers of yards, quality workmanship and on time deliveries. Even after delays, new construction ships were failing delivery inspections because the ships were not 'ready for sea'. Your articles were right on target not only regarding ice cutters but across the entire Man of War inventory. I very much appreciated reading them and encouraged that we are FINALLY doing something about this dismally degrading industrial capacity which significantly effects our National Security.
What effect has the Jones Act had on this country’s ship building industry? Need I ask. Will building this fleet of ice breakers go around the jones act?
Your question prompted me because I was thinking I heard about this on the YouTube channel, "What Is Going On With Shipping?"
I thought I had heard on there that he Jones act was temporarily suspended. I was correct and curious what Grok said:
The Jones Act is a 1920 law that requires cargo moving between U.S. ports to be carried on ships that are built, owned, and crewed by Americans. It's a protectionist measure meant to support the domestic maritime industry. Right now, it's not fully in effect. President Trump extended a waiver just yesterday for another 90 days, running through mid-November. The waiver was originally issued in March due to the Iran war disruptions and has been the longest suspension in the law's history. This latest version is narrower than before, covering mostly energy commodities and fertilizers, and each voyage now needs case-by-case approval rather than a blanket exemption.
Very interesting. Thanks for that update.
“You might ask why the United States does not simply build all eleven here and skip the Finnish step.” Actually, I would ask, what exactly do we need all those icebreakers for? In the commercial arena, is there lot of shipping planned to and from ports that freeze out in winter? Or are these ships primarily to bring mined minerals out from Greenland, Iceland, wherever? If so, are the mining companies picking up a significant portion of the ice breaker cost?
In the military arena, similar question. In an age of GPS guided missiles, drones, the DEW line, etc, how exactly do ice breakers fit into current military strategy?
I believe it's part of a race to control the Arctic. Russia and China are already laying claims. It's why Trump wants Greenland.
OK. Thx Double Mc. Thought it was something like that, but hadn't personally seen any reporting on the overall strategy. Some of my slightly TDS afflicted friends were on and on about what a stupid waste of money the icebreakers were. So when I saw this article, was hoping for bit more context.
Rescue of commercial ships and keeping navigation routes open is what Icebreakers do. This is about US trade.
It’s more about the nations security