USCGC POLAR STAR

• Oldest Heavy Icebreaker in U.S. Service: USCGC POLAR STAR (WAGB-10) is the United States’ only operational heavy icebreaker, commissioned in 1976 and still active today. • Operation Deep Freeze: POLAR STAR plays a crucial role in Operation Deep Freeze, the annual mission to resupply and support the U.S. Antarctic Program at McMurdo Station. • Powerful Engines: The vessel is equipped with both diesel-electric and gas turbine engines, allowing her to produce up to 75,000 horsepower—enough to break ice up to 21 feet thick by backing and ramming. • Unique Hull Design: POLAR STAR’s hull is designed with a rounded, reinforced shape that allows it to ride up on ice and break it with the ship’s weight. • Sister Ship: POLAR STAR has a sister ship, USCGC POLAR SEA (WAGB-11), which has been inactive since 2010 due to engine failure and repair costs. • Global Reach: While best known for Antarctic missions, POLAR STAR has also operated in the Arctic, supporting scientific research and maintaining U.S. presence in polar regions. • Vital to National Security: As the only operational heavy icebreaker, POLAR STAR is crucial for projecting U.S. presence in polar regions and supporting national security interests. • Near Retirement Age: Despite being over 45 years old, POLAR STAR remains active due to delays in the new Polar Security Cutter program, making her maintenance a continual challenge. • Humanitarian Missions: The crew has assisted stranded ships and conducted search and rescue missions in extreme conditions, including helping break free vessels trapped in ice. • Historic Refit: In 2013, POLAR STAR underwent a major $57 million overhaul to extend her operational life, involving significant upgrades and repairs to engines, systems, and hull.