Fairbanks Morse Defense, backed by Arcline Investment Management, secures a purchase order to supply motor-operated valves for the United States Coast Guard’s Polar Sentinel (WMSP-21). This cutter is the inaugural vessel among three planned for the Polar Security Cutter program, enhancing the USCG’s capabilities in the Arctic and supporting Operation Deep Freeze in the Antarctic.
In the pursuit of advancing American maritime interests, Fairbanks Morse Marine Equipment’s President, Charles Ferrer, emphasizes their commitment to delivering robust valves and components, allowing ship crews to focus entirely on their missions. The recently awarded contract for the Polar Sentinel (WMSP-21) in the Coast Guard’s Polar Security Cutter program reflects the confidence in Fairbanks Morse’s products to endure challenging conditions.
The Polar Security Cutter vessels are currently under construction at the Bollinger Mississippi Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., with Seattle, Wash., designated as their homeport. The existing USCG icebreaker fleet, comprising the USCGC Polar Star heavy polar icebreaker and the USCGC Healy medium icebreaker, highlights the need for modernization.
As the Coast Guard ensures access to global waterways for economic, commercial, and national security needs, the icebreaking capabilities of polar security cutters become crucial. These vessels maintain readiness in the Arctic and Antarctic, supporting scientific research, commerce, national security activities, and maritime safety by facilitating the movement of goods and personnel.
With a legacy spanning almost a century, Fairbanks Morse Defense has been a key provider for the Coast Guard, currently powering over 65% of its ships with medium-speed applications. Following its acquisition in 2021, Hunt Valve, a subsidiary of Fairbanks Morse Defense, specializes in manufacturing valves and electromechanical actuators tailored for naval defense applications.
About Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD)
Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) builds, maintains, and services the most trusted naval power and propulsion systems on the planet. For nearly 100 years, FMD has been a principal supplier of a growing array of leading marine technologies, OEM parts, and turnkey services to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and Canadian Coast Guard. FMD stands ready to rapidly support the systems that power military fleets without compromising safety or quality. In times of peace and war, the experienced engineers, sailors, and technicians of FMD demonstrate our commitment to supporting the mission and vision of critical global naval operations wherever and whenever needed. FMD is a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management.