The U.S. Coast Guard is a military service that operates a diesel-powered heavy icebreaker to provide a critical resupply mission to U.S. facilities in Antarctica, while also performing annual science missions in the Arctic with a medium icebreaker. As of this writing, only one U.S. heavy icebreaker is active, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) POLAR STAR (WAGB 10). POLAR STAR'S sister ship, USCGC POLAR SEA (WAGB 11), has been inactive since 2011. To meet the annual Antarctic obligations, significant planning, technical, and logistical resources are directed to POLAR STAR in the 7-8 month window between deployments. To meet annual Arctic obligations, the Coast Guard operates the medium icebreaker USCGC HEALY (WAGB 20). Both POLAR STAR and HEALY have design features that enable them to operate in extreme environments, while these features drive very different drydocking periodicities. This paper will describe and explain the unique challenges of sustaining high latitude icebreaking, and the design features, as well as other solutions employed to address them.
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