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The United States Coast Guard uses Icebreakers to help conduct search and rescue missions in the icy, polar oceans. United States icebreakers serve to defend economic interests and maintain the nation’s presence in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. As the icecaps in the Arctic continue to melt, there is an increase in passageways being discovered. These possible navigation routes causes in increase of interests in the polar hemispheres from nations worldwide. The United States Polar Icebreakers must continue to support scientific research in the expanding Arctic and Antarctic oceans. Every year, a heavy icebreaker must perform Operation Deep Freeze, clearing a safe path for resupply ships to the National Science Foundation’s facility McMurdo in Antarctica. The most recent multi-month excursion was lead by the Polar Star who escorted a container and fuel ship through treacherous conditions before maintaining the channel free of ice. Without a heavy icebreaker, America would not be able to continue its polar research in Antarctica as there would be no way to reach the science foundation.

Polar Sea
The Polar Sea was commissioned in 1978 becoming one of two new United States Coast Guard’s heavy polar icebreakers. The vessel was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle, Washington. The ship would later suffer engine failure and be removed from service in 2010. The 399-foot ship could carry a crew of 134 and hold an additional scientific research team of 20. Following the Polar Sea’s catastrophic failure, the ship serves as scrap parts for the Polar Star.

Polar Star
The identical sister ship, the Polar Star was simultaneously built in the 70's and placed in service in 1976. Both United States Coast Guard ships had the capability to break ice 6 feet deep at a speed of 3 knots. The Polar Star went under caretaker service in July 1, 2006 but was later redeployed when the Polar Sea was deemed not operational. Both heavy icebreakers were initially built for a 30-year life expectancy but due to the current US Coast Guard funding the Polar Star has stayed in use. Extending the ship’s life expectancy has cost millions for the United States, but with no other operational heavy icebreakers, the US Coast Guard has had no other choice.

Healy
The Healy, a medium icebreaker built in New Orleans, LA, entered service in the year 2000. The 420-foot vessel completes the USCG fleet of icebreakers. Its purpose is to support scientific research in the Arctic where ice is thinner. While larger than the other icebreakers, the Healy is only able to break 4 ½ feet of ice at 3 knots. Instead, the ship can house 50 scientific researchers while a smaller crew of 67 operates the vessel.

Future Heavy Icebreakers
Currently the Coast Guard has only two operational icebreakers: The Polar Star and The Healy. The United States Coast Guard is aware of their depleting Icebreaker fleet and is currently in the process of expanding. The USCG has been working together with Congress to receive a budget for new ice breaking vessels. The United States Coast Guard has determined that in order to satisfy the demand of their ice breaking capability, they will need three additional heavy icebreakers and three medium icebreakers.

Back in 2012 the Department of Homeland Security approved the United States Coast Guard Heavy Polar Icebreaker program (HPIB). This included the acquisition of three new heavy polar icebreakers to the US Coast Guard fleet. The estimated $9.8 billion project will cover the building of the ships and the operational cost for the 30-years of life expectancy. The first ship is expected to arrive in the year 2023 which may leave the US Coast Guard with a period of 3 years without a heavy icebreaker. In order to combat this issue, the United States Coast Guard plans to further extend the life of the Polar Star until the 2nd heavy icebreaker is fully operational.

The United States Coast Guard has joined with the United States Navy to leverage their shipbuilding expertise and knowledge as they work together to expedite the program.

In the Heavy Polar Icebreaker program, the United States Coast Guard has requested each heavy icebreaker to have the capability of breaking through 6 feet of ice at 3 knots, break a maximum of 21 feet of ice, and be able to deploy for 80 days at a time.

In the spring of 2017, the US Coast Guard held small-scale experiments using heavy icebreaker models at the National Research Council facility in Newfoundland, Canada. They evaluated possible designs on their strength and mobility hoping to uncover new technology for the next heavy icebreakers.

As for medium icebreakers, the US Coast Guard has determined that there is no real urgency for them at this time and will focus on acquiring heavy icebreakers first.


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