Vigor Marine Portland Completes Dry Dock Repairs on USCGC Healy

Vigor Marine Portland has completed a dry dock maintenance availability for USCGC Healy (WAGB 20), a medium polar icebreaker operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, at the Swan Island shipyard in Portland, Oregon. Approximately 900 skilled workers contributed to the project, demonstrating the scale of expertise required to execute one of the Pacific Northwest's most complex ship repair availabilities.

"This project reflects the strong teamwork between our skilled employees and the U.S. Coast Guard in preparing Healy for its return to Arctic operations," said Adam Beck, EVP of Maintenance and Modernization for VMG. "Our team partnered closely with the Coast Guard to successfully complete a broad range of mechanical, structural, preservation, and modernization work and returned the vessel to service. Coast Guard vessels serve critical roles in some of the harshest conditions on earth, and we are proud to support their mission."

The availability required close coordination with subcontractors and shipyard personnel across major crafts including boilermakers, carpenters, crane operators and machinists. It included restoring critical propulsion components, including shafts, bearings, seals, rudders and the bow thruster, to ensure reliable performance during Arctic deployments. The team also modernized the vessel's EM-304 multibeam sonar system and supporting infrastructure to enhance Healy's ocean mapping and scientific research capabilities.

In addition to these major repairs, Vigor manufactured a replacement Sub-Bottom Profiler (SBP) casing in support of an emergent customer need. By designing, fabricating and delivering the casing to original equipment manufacturer specifications, the team avoided delays in the installation of Healy's scientific systems and restored the vessel's full three-casing configuration.

Vigor Marine Group has a long history supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, whether in Portland, Seattle or the formerly VMG-operated Ketchikan Shipyard. This represents the second maintenance availability VMG has completed on USCGC Healy, reinforcing its ongoing support of U.S. Coast Guard fleet readiness and Arctic mission operations. This work demonstrates the depth of knowledge and capabilities across VMG shipyards, which are industry leaders in supporting complex maintenance and modernization availabilities.

In addition to USCGC Healy, USCGC Polar Star is also nearing completion at the Harbor Island shipyard in Seattle, and additional work in Portland includes both USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and USS Savannah (LCS-28).