The US Coast Guard (USCG) has issued three proposals for expanding its Seattle facilities in anticipation of homeporting new vessels that will increasingly sail in the Arctic. The USCG has worked out of the 23-acre Pier 36 site since 1966, which is home to the service’s only heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, but more room will be required after Congress approved the construction of six new icebreakers, three of which will operate out of Seattle, with the first expected to arrive in 2024. As a result, the USCG is proposing to take over between 21 and 53 acres of commercial shipping waterfront adjacent to its current base to accommodate the new vessels, and while private shippers have generally expressed support for a greater USCG presence, there is some concern that the USCG takeover will scrap planned bulk cargo expansion plans. The USCG has paid more attention to the Arctic in recent years as regional ice melts and routes become more regularly accessible, with the 2019 strategy having argued for greater awareness and presence in the region.