US Coast Guard’s newest icebreaker completes inaugural patrol

October 7, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Coast Guard cutter Storis (WAGB 21), the service’s newest commissioned icebreaker, has completed its 112-day inaugural patrol.

In early June, the cutter Storis departed Pascagoula, Mississippi, beginning a long voyage that would take it through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific Ocean toward its first Arctic patrol. Its mission was to operate north of the Bering Strait, helping control, secure, and defend the northern U.S. border and maritime approaches.

Under the direction of the Coast Guard’s Arctic District, Storis supported Operation Frontier Sentinel, an effort focused on countering foreign influences in or near Alaskan and U.S. Arctic waters.

By early September, Storis had reached the ice for the first time, relieving the US Coast Guard cutter Healy (WAGB 20) and taking on the task of monitoring two Chinese-flagged research vessels, Jidi and Xue Long 2.

The deployment came during a summer of increased activity in the region, as five China-affiliated research ships operated throughout the Arctic, according to the officials.

Before heading north, Storis had been officially commissioned in Juneau, Alaska, on August 10, marking the introduction of the US Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker in more than 25 years.

US Coast Guard’s new polar icebreaker enters service

Vessels

During its inaugural deployment, the crew carried out helicopter operations, gunnery exercises, and established new operational and administrative systems. The cutter also made six port calls, hosting community outreach events and welcoming over 1,500 visitors aboard.

Reflecting on the mission, Capt. Corey Kerns, commanding officer of the Storis, noted that in just a few months, the crew had mastered the fundamentals of ship operations and was ready to take on greater challenges.

As a medium polar icebreaker, Storis extends the US Coast Guard’s reach and capability in the Arctic—helping to maintain maritime security and sovereignty while the service continues developing additional polar icebreakers to strengthen U.S. presence in the far north.

Upon returning to Seattle, Storis will enter a six-week training period where the ship and the crew will undergo major training evolutions, system and program recapitalization, and a two-week underway phase with scheduled engagements in Victoria, Canada.

Storis is temporarily berthed in Seattle, alongside the service’s other polar icebreakers, until necessary infrastructure improvements are completed in Juneau where the cutter will be permanently homeported.