Cantwell Secures Commitments From Coast Guard Commandant on Major Investments in Seattle Icebreaker Docks and Base Infrastructure, Visit to Ilwaco

Cantwell Secures Commitments From Coast Guard Commandant on Major Investments in Seattle Icebreaker Docks and Base Infrastructure, Visit to Ilwaco

In a hearing of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation, Admiral Lunday tells Ranking Member Cantwell that the Coast Guard is investing an additional $323 million on the icebreaker base as the first new USCG Polar Security Cutter is on track for delivery in ; 2030Admiral Lunday also announces plans to visit Station Cape Disappointment next month

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, secured a commitment from U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday that the Coast Guard is investing an additional $323 million to prepare Base Seattle to be homeport to the first three new heavy icebreakers, the first of which will be delivered by 2030.

"I wanted to ask you about Slip 36 at Seattle. You guys have updated the aging facility plan and the workforce there. The reconciliation bill, I think, had some resources. Is Seattle part of your prioritization plan for the infrastructure plan for the future?" Sen. Cantwell asked.

Adm. Lunday responded:

"It is, Ranking Member Cantwell. The critical part of the work there is to rebuild and build out the capability for our Polar Security Cutters that will be homeported there, as well as [the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter] Healy, which continues to be homeported there […] We had resources through annual appropriations before for some of that work, and reconciliation adds additional resources to advance and complete that work."

The Coast Guard plans to invest an additional $323 million in Coast Guard Base Seattle for modernization, dredging, and construction of major cutter berths to homeport the new icebreakers that Sen. Cantwell has long championed.

Sen. Cantwell asked: "When would we expect to see the Polar Security Cutter [complete] construction? When would we expect to see ships arriving in Puget Sound?"

Adm. Lunday: "The first Polar Security Cutter, number one, being built in Mississippi is currently on track for completion and delivery to the Coast Guard in 2030. And so I can get back to you with a specific projected date on when it will arrive at its home port, but it'll be delivered to the Coast Guard right now on track in 2030."

During the committee hearing on Thursday, Adm. Lunday also announced plans to visit Station Cape Disappointment in Southwest Washington state in mid-February.

"We've talked about Cape Disappointment and the repair to damages for [the] homeport and new surf boats being built in our state. We want you to come and visit. Cape D obviously is a very important part of our plan," Sen. Cantwell said. "You agreed to work with us on a long-term plan to help fix the problems there at Cape D -- particularly accommodating new surf boats. So will you come visit? And will you help us continue to get this plan for Cape D?"

Adm, Lunday responded: "We will, Ranking Member Cantwell. Not only the improvements at Cape Disappointment, but also the long-term dredging challenge there at Cape Disappointment. And actually, if the government is funded, my current plan is to travel out to the Pacific Northwest in mid-February, including a visit to Station Cape Disappointment and the Motor Lifeboat School."

Video of their Q&A is HERE; a transcript is HERE.

In November, Sen. Cantwell secured a commitment from then-acting Adm. Lunday to support the construction of new docks that can support Station Cape Disappointment's critical heavy surf fleet of rescue boats, and the new replacement fleet for the 52-foot rescue boats. The future fleet of heavy-weather lifeboats will be homeported at Cape Disappointment and are currently under construction at Rozema in Mount Vernon. The new heavy-weather boats will support search and rescue missions, which is critical to the safety of people working in the fishing and maritime sector in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties. Cape Disappointment is also responsible for opening the Columbia River Bar, which supports $21-35 million in waterborne commerce each year, with 56% of our nation's grain exported through the river to markets across the globe. It is also home to the National Motor Lifeboat School, where all surfmen are trained in the Coast Guard.

In March, Sen. Cantwell helped secure the passage of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025. Among many important provisions, the legislation included historic protections for service members from sexual assault and harassment, boosted workforce development programs and availability of affordable housing, increased funding to help the U.S. Coast Guard deliver on critical priorities such as icebreakers and securing replacements for the old 52-foot heavy-weather lifeboats, raised penalties for abandoned and derelict vessels, and encouraged more collaboration with tribes. The legislation authorized $14.93 billion for FY25 and $15.51 billion for FY26. The full text of the bipartisan U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 is available HERE.

In September 2024, Sen. Cantwell convened a roundtable discussion at the Port of Ilwaco with local officials and stakeholders on economic development projects for the region, including opportunities for federal investments to help rebuild the commercial fishing dock that suffered catastrophic damages in a tragic fire earlier that year. Following the roundtable, Sen. Cantwell joined local business leader and one of Washington's representatives on the Pacific Fishery Management Council Butch Smith, U.S. Coast Guard officials, and other participants for a boat tour of the Ilwaco waterfront.

In September 2022, Sen. Cantwell joined former USCG Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan for a tour of the Coast Guard facilities at Cape Disappointment. During the tour, they heard from service members that the station needs more resources - for rescue boat infrastructure, as well as housing and training facilities. The Coast Guard is working on potential permanent solutions to persistent shoaling issues impacting the station at Cape Disappointment and the National Motor Lifeboat School. Currently the Coast Guard maintains waterways with dredging, which is only a temporary fix. Adm. Lunday's commitment to work on a longer-term solution, such as potential break walls and other infrastructure fixes, is a step forward in protecting the critical work of Station Cape Disappointment and training facilities there.

For 20 years, Sen. Cantwell has been a stalwart champion of building and maintaining polar icebreakers in the United States -- in 2006, she secured legislation requiring the Coast Guard to develop a long-term plan for maintaining and upgrading the icebreaker fleet. In 2016, Sen. Cantwell successfully persuaded the Obama administration to include new icebreaker funding. In 2019, Sen. Cantwell also helped secure $655 million to design and build the first Coast Guard polar icebreaker in more than four decades. That same year, she helped secure Seattle as the homeport for the first three Polar Security Cutters. In 2021, Cantwell authorized a full fleet of 6 new icebreakers, a strong signal to grow the icebreaker fleet. In 2022, the Cantwell-Wicker Coast Guard Authorization Act authorized the purchase of the CGC Storis, included legislation to ensure the medium icebreaker maintains scientific capacity, and supported NOAA Arctic research. Last year, the Cantwell-authored Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 increased authorized funding for the Coast Guard by 30%, which will support the Coast Guard's efforts to secure additional icebreakers and heavy weather lifeboats, among other priorities.