Helsinki Shipyard in Negotiations with U.S. Coast Guard – Pori’s Sata Shipbuilding Plays a Key Role

Helsinki Shipyard has built half of the world’s icebreakers and all those constructed in Finland in the 21st century. Its unmatched process expertise and highly skilled subcontractor network enable the fastest delivery times in the market and ensure a high domestic content. Cooperation with the United States strengthens Finland’s shipbuilding industry as part of the Western industrial ecosystem, creating growth, new jobs, and economic opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.

On October 9, the Presidents of the United States and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding on icebreaker cooperation at the White House. The agreement confirms the U.S. administration’s intention to procure medium-duty Arctic Security Cutters (ASC) for the U.S. Coast Guard. Davie, owner of Helsinki Shipyard, will now begin commercial negotiations to build the vessels in Finland. The number of vessels and their total economic impact will be specified during the negotiations.

“This memorandum marks the beginning of a Western shipbuilding initiative unseen since World War II. It represents the revival of Western industrial power led by the United States – with Finland’s world-leading icebreaker expertise as its engine. We are working tirelessly with the U.S. Coast Guard to deliver the vessels by 2028,” says James Davies, Co-owner and CEO of Davie.

“We appreciate the confidence shown by the U.S. administration and the continued support from the Finnish government. Finland holds a significant lead in icebreaker design and construction – and besides Helsinki, there is no other shipyard in the world with such a proven record, know-how, and reliability. This is thanks to the shipyard’s exceptional process excellence,” says Mika Heiskanen, Managing Director of Davie Finland.

The Arctic Security Cutter concept, designed in Finland for U.S. needs, represents the fourth generation of Arctic icebreakers developed at Helsinki Shipyard. The series includes seven vessels built between 2005 and 2018. Each medium-duty icebreaker built in Helsinki is estimated to generate more than 1,500 person-years of employment.

“The concept we are offering to the U.S. Coast Guard perfectly matches the required capabilities and meets the criteria of a proven, tested design. We can build several icebreakers simultaneously, meaning the entire series can be delivered from Helsinki,” Heiskanen continues.

Icebreaker cooperation strengthens Finland’s maritime industry

Helsinki Shipyard has built half of the world’s icebreakers and all Finnish-built icebreakers of the 21st century. The shipyard is currently building, together with Davie’s Lévis shipyard in Canada, the Polar Max heavy icebreaker commissioned by the Government of Canada — a project valued at more than €500 million for Finland.

Davie is also preparing a multi-billion-dollar investment in Texas shipyards, where its U.S. icebreaker projects would be executed. The vessels will be based on a concept owned by Helsinki Shipyard, with both the shipyard and its Finnish subcontractors contributing to the production. Close cooperation between Davie’s shipyards in Texas and Helsinki will create significant new opportunities for Finland’s maritime industry.

In July 2025, Davie strengthened its steel production capabilities by acquiring Enersense Offshore Oy in Pori. Operating under the name Sata Shipbuilding Oy, the Mäntyluoto shipyard currently delivers steel blocks for the Polar Max project and will play an important role in future U.S. icebreaker orders.

“Finnish shipbuilding excellence is deeply rooted in domestic supply chains and processes that, thanks to Davie, now gain a foothold in transatlantic markets. This cooperation further reinforces the position of Finnish shipyards in Western markets and drives growth across the entire maritime industry,” Heiskanen adds.

As the owner, Davie’s strategic objective is to expand the operations, expertise, and employment of both the Helsinki and Pori shipyards in international markets. Davie is the only company with shipbuilding operations in all ICE Pact icebreaker alliance nations — the United States, Canada, and Finland. The collaboration network created by Davie opens significant global business opportunities for Finnish maritime know-how, including shipbuilding, shipyard development, and education export.

Local impact in Satakunta

“It is particularly gratifying that the impacts extend strongly to Pori. The Mäntyluoto shipyard – now Sata Shipbuilding – plays a key role in current and future icebreaker projects, strengthening Pori’s position as a hub of industry and resilience. This investment brings new jobs and confidence in the future of Satakunta. Rauma also rightfully shines in this overall picture. The success of Rauma Shipyard reflects the region’s strong industrial competence and competitiveness, showing that Satakunta’s maritime expertise continues to be world-class,” says Lauri Inna, Mayor of Pori.

For more information:

Antti Leino, Director, Public Affairs, Davie
antti.leino@davie.group