SEATTLE — Planning documents show that the U.S. Coast Guard has begun major upgrades at its Seattle base as it simultaneously looks to acquire a large section of the city’s waterfront from the Port of Seattle.

The Coast Guard has awarded a contract to overhaul Pier 36 to support three new polar security cutters — a class of heavy icebreakers designed for Arctic and Antarctic operations.

The approved project includes dredging the basin at Pier 36 and constructing two upgraded berths able to support the deep-draft ships.

“Seattle is the designated homeport for the Coast Guard’s new Polar Security Cutters,” spokesperson told KING 5. “Those cutters have a deeper draft than the Service’s legacy heavy icebreakers, so the dredging project deepens the basin and upgrades Piers 36 and 37 to deliv

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