Polar icebreakers can operate in the extreme conditions of, and break through the thick ice found in the Arctic Ocean and the waters surrounding Antarctica. Congress has expressed concern about the Coast Guard's ability to meet its polar operations mission requirements in light of the condition of the Coast Guard's polar icebreaker fleet, and directed the Coast Guard to submit a comprehensive report on polar operations. This book examines the issues facing Congress on whether it will approve or modify the Coast Guard's plan for modernising its polar icebreakers. Congressional decisions on this issue could affect the Coast Guard's ability to perform its polar missions, funding requirements and U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.