The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest commissioned icebreaker, Cutter Storis (WAGB 21), returned to Seattle on Friday after completing a 112-day inaugural patrol that strengthened U.S. operations and security in the Arctic region.

The vessel set sail from Pascagoula, Mississippi, on June 1, 2025, transiting the Panama Canal and crossing the Pacific Ocean before heading north for its first Arctic deployment.

Operating under the Coast Guard Arctic District, Storis supported Operation Frontier Sentinel, a mission focused on securing the U.S. northern maritime boundary and countering foreign influence near Alaskan and Arctic waters.

In early September, the cutter entered the Arctic ice for the first time under U.S. Coast Guard command. It relieved Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) and monitored the Chinese-flagged research vessels Jidi and Xue Long 2.

The mission took place amid heightened strategic competition in the region, with five Chinese research vessels reportedly operating in Arctic waters over the summer.

Throughout the patrol, Storis worked alongside other Coast Guard assets to control, secure, and defend U.S. territory and maritime approaches. The Coast Guard remains the nation’s only surface presence in the Arctic, operating in coordination with U.S. Northern Command and Alaskan Command to monitor foreign maritime activity and safeguard American interests.

The Coast Guard commissioned Storis on 10 August in Juneau, Alaska, making it the first polar icebreaker acquired by the service in more than 25 years. During its maiden mission, the crew carried out helicopter operations, gunnery drills, and a range of administrative and operational exercises. The deployment also included community outreach events across six port calls, where over 1,500 visitors toured the vessel.

According to Captain Corey Kerns, the cutter’s commanding officer, the crew has made steady progress in mastering the ship’s systems and is committed to showcasing its operational capability.

Following its arrival in Seattle, Storis will begin a six-week training period, which includes system maintenance, crew training, and a two-week underway phase with scheduled operations in Victoria, Canada. Once infrastructure work is completed in Juneau, the cutter will be permanently homeported there, joining the Coast Guard’s other polar vessels.

The Coast Guard currently operates three active polar icebreakers, with Storis providing immediate capability to support national security and sovereign interests in the Arctic.

Reference: USCG

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