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Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
assets, reduced visibility, inadequate communications,andseastatesexceedingsafelaunchparameters placefurtherlimitationsonoperatingtheseimportant assets in the Arctic. Future Endeavors In 2012, during Operation Arctic Shield, the Coast Guarddeployedassetsincludingaircraft,buoytenders,andoneofthenewnationalsecuritycuttersin thelargestseasonaldeploymentevernorthoftheArcticCircle.TheCoastGuardismeetingnear-termmissiondemandswiththecurrentsuiteofArctic-capable assets. As part of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic Strategy implementation, we will examine long-term missiondemandsandhowthiswillimpactcapabilities, includingicebreakers,ice-strengthenedsurfacevessels,communications,forwardoperatinglocations, shore-basedresponseboats,andaviationassets. As recession of the Arctic sea ice drives expansion of shipping,tourism,scientifcresearch,andresource extraction,thenationwillneedtocontinueexploringhowtobestinvestinspecializedfacilitiesand response assets to overcome the challenges of operatinginthisharshenvironment.Shore-basedsupport, maintenance, and operations capabilities (including buildings, boats, and aircraft toughened for extremecoldweather),remainessentialtocarryout thenation'sgoals.Communicationscapabilityakin tootherU.S.watersiscriticaltoeffcientoperations. WhiletheseassetsarerequiredforfullCoastGuard effectiveness,icebreakersandice-strengthenedvesselsremainessentialtoyear-roundaccesstoice-coveredsurfacewaters. AcknowledgingtheneedfornewArcticcapabilities, theCoastGuardhasbeguntheacquisitionprocess fornewpolaricebreakingcapability.However,new www.uscg.mil/proceedings Arcticacquisitionsmustbebalancedwithcontinuingrecapitalizationofourcurrentcutters,aviation assets, and boats, ensuring robust and continued operationalcapability,whilepreparingforfuturemissiondemandsacrosstheCoastGuard'sentirerange of missions. InterestintheArcticregionisgrowing;manycommercialandinternationalplayersaremovingahead withtheirArcticplans.Asaresult,theCoastGuard needsthecapability toprotectournation's sovereignty,people,andresourcesinourterritorialseas andexclusiveeconomiczone.FortheU.S.tofully ensureitsArcticinterestsaresafeguarded,nowisthe timetomakesurethenationhaswhatitneedsfor operationsinthisforbidding,important,andemerging frontier. About the authors: LCDR Kristen Serumgard is the polar icebreaker sponsor representative in the Offce of Cutter Forces at Coast Guard headquarters. Her previous afoat tours include deck watch offcer aboard USCGC PolarSea,and executive offcer for USCGC Orcas and Hollyhock. LCDR Michael Krause is the chief of the Mobility and Ice Operations Division at USCG headquarters. He served with the International Ice Patrol in polar and domestic icebreaking program management. His afoat experience includes icebreaking in the Arctic and Antarctic, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations. Endnotes: 1. ationalSecurityPresidentialDirective(NSPD66)/HomelandSecurity N PresidentialDirective(HPSD25),January2009. 2. ationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,NationalWeather N Service.Availableatwww.nws.noaa.gov. 3. akobsson,M.,L.A.Mayer,B.Coakley,J.A.Dowdeswell, S.Forbes, J B. Fridman, H. Hodnesdal, R. Noormets, R. Pedersen, M. Rebesco, H. W. Schenke, Y. Zarayskaya, A. D. Accettella, A. Armstrong, R.M.Anderson,P.Bienhoff,A.Camerlenghi,I.Church,M.Edwards, J. V. Gardner, J. K. Hall, B. Hell, O. B. Hestvik, Y. Kristoffersen, C.Marcussen,R.Mohammad,D.Mosher,S.V.Nghiem,M.T.Pedrosa, P. G. Travaglini, and P. Weatherall, The International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO) Version 3.0, GeophysicalResearchLetters, doi:10.1029/2012GL052219,inpress. Summer 2013 Proceedings 25