USCG HISTORY: On this day, January 3, 2014 -CGC Polar Star received a request from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on 3 January 2014 to assist the Russian-flagged Akademik Shokalskiy and Chinese-flagged Xue Long, reportedly ice-bound in the Antarctic. The Russian and Chinese governments also requested assistance from the United States. After resupplying in Sydney, Polar Star was en route to the stranded vessels on 4 January, enduring 50-knot winds, 20-foot seas and 40-degree rolls. The Coast Guard icebreaker left its homeport of Seattle in December 2013 to support Operation Deep Freeze. The ship’s mission was to break a channel through the sea ice of McMurdo Sound to allow the resupply and refueling of the U.S. Antarctic Program’s McMurdo and Amundsen-Scott South Pole stations. Polar Star was released by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority from SAR duties on 7 January 2014, following confirmation that both stricken vessels were free from the Antarctic ice due to a favorable change in wind conditions. The Coast Guard Pacific Area command center received confirmation from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority that both ships broke through the heavy ice, rendering assistance from the Polar Star no longer necessary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Coast Guard Cutter 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. Coast Guard Pacific Area Command Center received the request Thursday evening from AMSA after they evaluated the situation and determined there is sufficient concern that the vessels may not be able to free themselves from the ice. AMSA has been coordinating rescue operations since the Akademik Shokalskiy became beset with ice on Dec. 24. The Polar Star will cut short its planned stop in Sydney to support the AMSA’s request for assistance. “The U.S. Coast Guard stands ready to respond to Australia’s request,” said Vice Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander. “Our highest priority is safety of life at sea, which is why we are assisting in breaking a navigational path for both of these vessels. We are pleased to learn the passengers of the Akademik Shokalskiy have been transported safely off the vessel. We are always ready and duty bound to render assistance in one of the most remote and harsh environments on the face of the globe.” The Polar Star left its homeport of Seattle in early December on one of its primary missions, Operation Deep Freeze. The ship’s mission is to break a channel through the sea ice of McMurdo Sound to resupply and refuel the U.S. Antarctic Program’s (USAP) McMurdo Station on Ross Island. The National Science Foundation manages the USAP, which coordinates all science research and related logistics in Antarctica and on the Southern Ocean. McMurdo Station is the logistics hub for NSF’s research. The Polar Star will continue on this mission after conclusion of the vessel assistance mission. This is the first time since 2006 that the Polar Star has made this journey. It has recently completed a three-year, $90 million overhaul, which will allow it to continue these important missions into the foreseeable future. For more than 50 years, Coast Guard icebreaker crews have deployed to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze. They will again assist by creating a navigable shipping lane through the layers of sea ice in McMurdo Sound permitting delivery of critical fuel and supplies needed to operate the U.S. McMurdo and South Pole stations throughout the coming year. The Polar Star is the U.S. Coast Guard’s only active heavy polar ice breaker. The ship is 399 feet in length, its maximum speed is 18 knots, it is able to continuously break six feet of ice at three knots, and able to break 21 feet of ice backing and ramming. The Polar Star is specifically designed for open-water icebreaking with a reinforced hull and special icebreaking bow. gcaptain/forum/press-releases/13802-coast-guard-cutter-polar-star-assist-vessels-antarctica.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE waiting game in the seas off Antarctica continues, with two ships now stuck fast in pack ice. Chinese icebreaker Xue Long today confirmed to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority that it had become beset by ice. It joins the Russian-flagged research vessel MV Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stuck in the ice since Christmas Day. Xue Long was one of three icebreakers that came to the aid of Akademik Shokalskiy. The Aurora Australis is now leaving the area carrying the rescued passengers from Akademik Shokalskiy after receiving clearance to do so. The Australian icecbreaker is making its way to Australias Casey station to complete a resupply mission before heading for Hobart. The master of Xue Long confirmed to AMSA on Friday that the ship was safe and did not need assistance. The ship was carrying enough food to keep the crew going for several weeks, he said. The crews of the Xue Long and Akademik Shokalskiy are waiting for their chance to make a break free from the ice. AMSAs Rescue Coordination Centre will maintain regular contact with the Xue Long and Akademik Shokalskiy. Spirit of Mawson expedition doctor Andrew Peacock, who is among the 52 passengers rescued from the Russian ship and taken on board the Aurora Australis, said the Australian icebreaker was travelling very slowly in heavy pack ice. Cabins were a little crowded but everyone was comfortable. [We are] relieved to be moving again but sad at having to leave our trusty ship and wonderful Russian crew behind, he said. Dr Peacock said the crew of the Akademik Shokalskiy appeared to be handling their situation well. The captain was not too concerned, outwardly at least, when we left, saying that they would wait for conditions to change that would allow the ship to get free of heavy pack ice. Alternatively, it is possible that the US Coastguard icebreaker Polar Star, which will be in the area soon, will be tasked with the job of helping the ship, he said. Dr Peacock said everyone in his group was extremely grateful to all those involved in their rescue by helicopter on Thursday. He said the rescue proceeded quickly and efficiently once the Chinese helicopter crew found safe landing sites. All 52 passengers and a lot of scientific equipment was moved from Akademik Shokalskiy to the Aurora Australis icebreaker in six flights, he said. We really want to thank the crew of both ships. They made everyone feel very confident that all would be well. themercury.au/news/tasmania/chinese-icebreaker-xue-long-and-russian-flagged-research-vessel-mv-akademik-shokalskiy-now-both-stuck-in-pack-ice/story-fnj4f7k1-1226795005474 ---------------------------------------------------------- Polar Star stands down from Antarctic rescue Posted by LT Stephanie Young, Wednesday, January 8, 2014 Written by Coast Guard Pacific Area. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star was released by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority from search and rescue duties Jan. 7, following confirmation the Russian-Flagged Akademik Shokalskiy and Chinese-Flagged Xue Long are free from the Antarctic ice due to a favorable change in wind conditions. The Coast Guard Pacific Area command center received confirmation from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority at 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time that both ships broke through the heavy ice, rendering assistance from the Polar Star no longer necessary. “We are extremely pleased to learn that both the Xue Long and the Akademik Shokalskiy freed themselves from the ice. This case underscores the dynamic and harsh operating environment and the necessity for Polar Class Icebreakers in the Antarctic. I am indebted to the tremendous collaboration with RCC Australia, other countries that assisted and the National Scientific Foundation throughout this operation,” said Vice Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, Coast Guard Pacific Area commander.” And I am especially proud of the crew of the Polar Star who have toiled these past several years in restoring this great cutter to Semper Paratus – Always Ready status, as she alters course for McMurdo and Operation Deep Freeze.” “I am exceptionally proud of my crew in their ability to respond to this mission,” said Capt. George Pellissier, commanding officer of the Polar Star. “I, too, am extremely pleased that both the Akademik Shokalskiy and the Xue Long have been able to work their way free of the ice. We’re now looking forward to continuing on our primary mission of resupplying McMurdo Station.” The Polar Star received the original request from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on Jan. 3 to assist the Russian-Flagged Akademik Shokalskiy and Chinese-Flagged Xue Long, reportedly ice-bound in the Antarctic. The Russian and Chinese governments also requested assistance from the United States. After resupplying in Sydney, the cutter was en route to the stranded vessels Jan. 4. The Polar Star left its homeport of Seattle in December 2013 on one of its primary missions Operation Deep Freeze. The ship’s mission is to break a channel through the sea ice of McMurdo Sound to allow the resupply and refueling of the U.S. Antarctic Program’s McMurdo and Amundsen-Scott South Pole stations. The National Science Foundation manages all the scientific research and logistics of the U. S. Antarctic Program on the Antarctic continent and in the Southern Ocean. McMurdo Station is the logistics hub for the U.S. Antarctic Program research. This is the first time since 2006 that the Polar Star has made this journey. It has recently completed a three-year, $90 million overhaul, which will allow it to continue these important missions into the foreseeable future. For more than 50 years, Coast Guard icebreaker crews have deployed to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze. The Polar Star is the U.S. Coast Guard’s only active heavy polar icebreaker. The ship is 399 feet in length and its maximum speed is 18 knots. The cutter is able to continuously break six feet of ice at three knots, and break 21 feet of ice backing and ramming. The Polar Star is specifically designed for open-water ice breaking with a reinforced hull and special ice-breaking bow. - See more at: coastguard.dodlive.mil/2014/01/polar-star-stands-down-from-antarctic-rescue/#sthash.HXznvYbE.dpuf
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 19:05:48 +0000
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