On January 16, an Australian-owned cruise ship sent out a call for help. The ship had become trapped in thickly packed ice about eight nautical miles from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Responding to the call with a 50-year-old U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker called the Polar Star.
The Polar Star conducted two close passes near the cruise ship, freeing it from the ice, and then escorted the ship out of the ice pack. The Coast Guard icebreaker had deployed in late November for Operation Deep Freeze, supporting the U.S. mission to Antarctica. First commissioned in 1976, it is America's only currently active icebreaker.
"At 50 years old, [the] Polar Star remains the world's most capable non-nuclear icebreaker," explained Coast Guard Cmdr. Samuel Blase, who serves as the ship's executive officer. "That's a testament to the crews that have maintained it over the decades. With years of service left to give, [the] Polar Star will continue to guide the way in the high latitudes well into the future."
Over the decades, the Polar Star has deployed to both the Arctic and Antarctic, keeping critical shipping lanes open, safeguarding American national sovereignty, and protecting energy and mineral resources, in addition to the occasional rescue mission.
"I am constantly amazed at this crew's tremendous energy and enthusiasm," said Coast Guard Capt. Jeff Rasnake, the Polar Star's commanding officer. "Despite the many challenges associated with getting and keeping this ship on mission, they remain eternally positive and committed to meeting the high standards we've set for ourselves."