The Coast Guard Advances its Arctic Readiness in 2015, But Challenges Remain
Pacific Maritime Magazine, Feb. 2016, Forthcoming
University of Washington School of Law Research Paper No. 2016-02
5 Pages Posted: 24 Dec 2015 Last revised: 11 Feb 2016
Date Written: December 23, 2015
Abstract
In 2015, as the United States assumed its two-year chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the U.S. Coast Guard planned and executed a number of initiatives to advance maritime safety, security, and stewardship mission readiness in the Arctic. Yet the failure of Congress to provide the level of support necessary for the Coast Guard to adequately recapitalize its small and aging polar icebreaker fleet casts doubt on the service’s ability to fully meet its mandate to provide year-round, assured access and self-rescue in the polar regions. Hopefully, that trend will be reversed in the coming years.
Keywords: Coast Guard, Arctic, Icebreakers, Shipping, Arctic Coast Guard Forum, Arctic Council, Arctic Shield, Arctic Zephyr
JEL Classification: L92, L98, R40, H41, H54, H56, H60
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation