Tag Archives: USCGC Polar Star
Polar Star crew recognized for mission-saving repairs
Polar Star’s engineering crew knows more about the saga of aging cutters than the average Coast Guardsman. Every patrol, maintenance issues occur regularly, but Operation Deep Freeze 2016 was the “mother” of all casualties for the 40-year old cutter, threatening to halt a resupply mission for the U.S. Antarctic Program in Antarctica. It took a surfboard repair kit, elbow grease and round-the-clock marathon repair sessions by Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Oakes, an electrician’s mate, Petty Officer 3rd Class Agustin Foguet, a damage controlman and Seaman Manon Mullen from the deck department, to keep the limping “polar-roller,” as it’s affectionately called, afloat and operable. The three crew members were in for a surprise when Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukuft recognized them during an awards ceremony aboard the cutter. The Commandant was then shown the engine room where the critical repairs took place. Read the story here 09:24
UPDATE 2 – USCGC Polar Star On Scene With F/V Antarctic Chieftain
A U.S. Coast Guard crew is on scene with the 207-foot fishing vessel that is beset in ice approximately 900 miles northeast of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. After traveling more than 430 miles, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star has reached the crew of the Australian-flagged fishing vessel, Antarctic Chieftain, who contacted Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand Tuesday evening for assistance after becoming trapped in the Antarctic ice. Read the rest here 18:01
USCGC Polar Star to assist vessels in Antarctica
ALAMEDA – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star is responding to a Jan. 3rd request from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to assist the Russian-Flagged Akademik Shokalskiy and Chinese-Flagged Xue Long that are reportedly ice-bound in the Antarctic. The Russian and Chinese Governments have also requested assistance from the United States. Read more@uscgnews 18:51
