US Coast Guard establishes Polar Coordination Office

The US Coast Guard operates US icebreakers such as Coast Guard Cutter
Healy
.
(Janes/Michael Fabey)

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has established a Polar Coordination Office (CG-PCO) under the USCG Director of Marine Transportation Systems (CG-5PW), the service confirmed on 20 February.

CG-PCO was stood up as an office on 4 July 2023 and reached initial operating capability (IOC) on 7 November 2023.

Office duties include developing USCG Arctic and Antarctic strategy and policy, the service said in its official establishment notice.

That work includes supporting the “execution of these through unified messaging and co-ordinated engagements within the coastguard and across interagency and international fora in conjunction with … other offices and operational commands as appropriate”, the USCG said.

The USCG operates the country’s only icebreakers, such as Coast Guard Cutter
Healy
(WAGB 20), and provides most of the naval operational assets for the polar regions.

CG-PCO will co-ordinate across the “polar enterprise” at USCG headquarters and across the operational areas on both polar policy and strategic issues, the USCG said.