It’s annual mission complete in Antarctica, the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star is now in dry dock at Vallejo, California, for the second phase of a five-year, $75 million Service Life Extension Program to ensure the longevity of the Coast Guard’s commitment to Antarctic operations.
The 140-member crew of the Polar Star delivered the vessel April 8 in Vallejo, rather than return the Polar Star to its homeport in Seattle, after its 25th Operation Deep Freeze deployment to the Antarctic continent, and a journal over some 24,300 nautical miles.
This year marks the 66th iteration of Operation Deep Freeze, an annual joint military service mission in support of the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program. Since 1955, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Coast Guard have provided air and maritime support across and around the Antarctic continent.
The cutter made several international port calls, among them stops in Wellington and Lyttelton, New Zealand, and Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Polar Star’s crew hosted the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Navy while in New Zealand.
While in Antarctica, Polar Star transited through more than 450 miles of pack ice and broke a 37-mile channel through 7-foot thick fast ice to McMurdo Station to allow the safe transit and offload of supply vessels Ocean Giant and Maersk Peary.
Polar Star also partnered with the Royal New Zealand Navy to escort the ice-capable logistics ship HMNZS Aotearoa for its first trip to McMurdo Station.
Polar Star transited to the Bay of Whales Feb. 17, setting a record for the furthest south any vessel has navigated, reaching 78 degrees 44 minutes 1.32 seconds south latitude, keeping about 500 yards from the ever shifting Ross Ice Shelf. The cutter also surveyed 396 nautical miles of the ice shelf for future navigational use.
Coast Guard officials noted that Polar Star spent a total of 65 days in Antarctica, making it the longest Operation Deep Freeze deployment completed by a Coast Guard polar icebreaker in 18 years.
After completing operations in Antarctica, Polar Star moored in Hobart and hosted the governor of Tasmania, Barbara Baker, and U.S. Consul General Kathleen Lively, along with several other government and military officials that are dedicated to supporting scientific efforts in Antarctica.
“They overcame constant challenges to complete the mission and set records along the way,” said Capt. William Woityra, commanding officer of the Polar Star. “They epitomize the values on the Antarctica Service Medal: courage, sacrifice, and devotion. I can think of no better team to lead future expeditions and new icebreakers as the Coast Guard invests in Polar Security Cutters.”
