Coast Guard could triple base size on Seattle waterfront as U.S. ramps up Arctic presence By Hal Bernton, The Seattle Times Published: May 12, 2021, 8:00am Share: The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing a renovation and expansion of its Seattle waterfront base that during the next decade will be home to three new icebreakers, and probably other vessels. The Coast Guard’s aging Seattle operations hub supports Pacific Northwest and polar missions. It will have a higher profile role in the coming years as the U.S. ramps up its presence in an Arctic region rapidly changing as the climate warms.