Icebreakers at the quay in Katajanokka, Helsinki. Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva
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The United States and Finland have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin industrial cooperation on icebreaker production. The agreement sets the foundation for a $6.1 billion procurement by the US Coast Guard.
President Alexander Stubb confirmed the signing during his visit to Washington, where he met President Donald Trump alongside Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Both Finnish leaders shared the development on social media platform X, stating that the memorandum prepares the ground for direct commercial agreements between shipyards and the US administration.
Reuters first reported the deal, citing a senior White House official who stated that 11 icebreakers will be ordered. Four will be built at Finnish shipyards, with the remaining seven to be constructed in the United States.
The deal follows years of talks between the two countries. Stubb stated the agreement would not have materialised without Trump, adding that direct negotiations between the US administration and shipbuilders had been underway for months.
The total value of the order is estimated at $6.1 billion, or approximately €5.2 billion. The first vessel is expected to be delivered by 2028.
Three of the US-built vessels will be constructed at Davie’s shipyard in Texas, with four built at Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana. In Finland, construction capacity exists at two shipyards, Helsinki and Rauma. Both facilities have experience with Arctic-class vessels and are part of larger industrial networks involving hundreds of suppliers and subcontractors.
Finland’s newest icebreaker, Polaris, was completed in 2016 at a cost of about €130 million. The current order is significantly larger in both scale and value. The agreement is projected to generate thousands of jobs across Finland, according to Meriteollisuus, the maritime industry association.
The order is Finland’s largest shipbuilding export deal in years. It strengthens the reputation of Finnish icebreaker technology, already considered among the most advanced globally.
The agreement also carries strategic weight. Trump has publicly backed a US Arctic fleet expansion, once mentioning a goal of 40 new icebreakers. At present, the United States operates only three.
While Finland’s government is not directly involved in the contracts, it has played a key role in facilitating the discussions. The deal also comes amid broader bilateral talks covering trade, security and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Stubb confirmed that the icebreaker collaboration was part of the wider agenda. He reiterated that US authorities have negotiated directly with shipbuilders and suppliers. The full details of the commercial agreements will be announced once private contracts are finalised.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
