VTHM builds Polar Star replacement

The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) arrived at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, following a 58-day transit from the U.S. The cutter departed from Seattle, Wash., on Nov. 26. 2020 marks the Polar Star’s 23rd journey to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, an annual joint military service mission to resupply the U.S. Antarctic stations, in support of the National Science Foundation. Polar Star arrived after creating a 23-mile channel through the ice to McMurdo Sound, which will enable the offload of over 19.5M pounds of dry cargo and 7.6Mgallons of fuel. Polar Star returns in 2021. Commissioned in 1976, Polar Star is the United States’ only operational heavy icebreaker. Russia has more than 50 icebreakers. The Coast Guard is seeking to increase its icebreaking fleet with six new polar security cutters. In April 2019, the Coast Guard awarded VT Halter Marine (VRHM) of Pascagoula, Miss., a contract for the design and construction of the Coast Guard’s lead polar security cutter, which will be homeported in Seattle. The contract also includes options for the construction of two additional PSCs. (Source: Workboat 01/23/20) https://www.workboat.com/news/government/coast-guard-cutter-polar-star-arrives-in-antarctica/