WASHINGTON – U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) Healy experienced a significant engineering casualty while operating northwest of Port Angeles, Washington. There were no reported injuries. On July 13th, tugs safely towed CGC Healy back to homeport for an investigation into the incident and to undergo major repairs.
“The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Healy acted with speed and skill in responding to this casualty,” said Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard. “While the Coast Guard remains underway and on mission in the Arctic, this casualty underscores the vital importance of President Trump’s vision to rapidly build and deliver a modern icebreaker fleet. The United States is an Arctic nation with enduring security, economic, and strategic interests in the region. The Nation needs a highly capable icebreaking fleet operated by the Coast Guard to ensure year-round access to the region to protect our northern border in Alaska and maritime approaches in the Arctic.”
The Coast Guard maintains a strong presence in the Arctic to control, secure, and defend the U.S. northern border and approaches, and uphold U.S. sovereignty against adversaries’ aggressive economic and military actions in the Arctic. CGC Storis, commissioned in August 2025, remains on patrol in the Arctic to advance U.S. interests. Last week, CGC Munro monitored two Chinese research vessels transiting north through the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and over the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf in the Bering Sea. Munro’s efforts advanced Operation Frontier Sentinel, which is designed to protect American sovereign rights, ensure consistency with international law, and position the Coast Guard to rapidly respond to any detected malign activity. In recent years, the Coast Guard has observed heightened activity in the U.S. Arctic and anticipates continued and increased presence in the region this summer.
Using the $25 billion provided by the historic investment in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Coast Guard is acquiring nearly $15 billion in new assets and capabilities, including icebreakers. This includes the Arctic Security Cutter program, a cornerstone of the Coast Guard’s strategy to defend U.S. sovereignty, secure critical shipping lanes, protect energy and mineral resources, and counter adversary presence in the Arctic. This rapid investment demonstrates the Coast Guard’s commitment to modernizing acquisition, delivering next-generation technology, restoring readiness, and revitalizing American shipbuilding.
The Coast Guard will provide additional information regarding the casualty aboard CGC Healy as it becomes available.
For media inquiries contact mediarelations@uscg.mil.
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About the U.S. Coast Guard
With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone, the U.S. Coast Guard defends the Nation, protects the marine transportation system, regulates and safeguards ports and waterways, leads the Nation in maritime drug interdiction and secures the maritime border. As a member of the joint force, a law enforcement organization, a regulatory agency and a member of the U.S. intelligence community, the Coast Guard employs a unique mix of authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the maritime domain to protect the economic and national security of the nation. More than 76,000 members of the Coast Guard operate a multi-mission, interoperable fleet of more than 220 cutters, 185 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, 1,300 boats and its own dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure.
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