View source for USCGC Polar Star

{{short description|United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker ship}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:USCGC ''Polar Star''}}
{{Redirect|Polar Star||Polar star (disambiguation)}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Polar Star 2.jpg
| Ship caption = USCGC ''Polar Star''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|United States|coast guard}}
| Ship name = ''Polar Star''
| Ship namesake = Italian-Norwegian wooden-hulled icebreaker, ''Stella Polar''
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company]], [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| Ship laid down = May 15, 1972
| Ship launched = November 17, 1973
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = January 17, 1976
| Ship recommissioned = December 2012
| Ship decommissioned = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship struck = 
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship refit = [[Vigor Shipyards]], Seattle, Washington (March 2010 – December 2012)
| Ship nickname = "Building 10",  "Cell Block 10", "Polar Roller", "Polar Spare", "The Star", "Wide Ass Government Building", "P Star"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Cutternicknames.pdf |title=Cutter Nicknames |publisher=United States Coast Guard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825202453/http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Cutternicknames.pdf |archive-date=2011-08-25 }} Retrieved 2012-01-15</ref> <!-- if you're going to include a nickname, cite a reference for it -->
| Ship motto = ''Naviget Bene Turbatum Mare''
(May she sail well through turbulent seas)
| Ship honors = 2020 Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award (Large); 2020 American Society of Naval Engineering Lucas 
Plaque; Antarctica Service Medals (24); Arctic Service Medals (14); Navy Unit Commendation; Coast Guard Unit Commendations (8); Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations (4);
| Ship fate = 
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|7367471}}
*{{MMSI Number|367255000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NBTM
*Hull number: WAGB-10
| Ship status = In service
| Badge = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = <ref name="cf98 p1119">Baker 1998, p. 1119.</ref>
| Ship class = {{sclass2|Polar|icebreaker}}
| Ship displacement = *{{convert|10863|LT|abbr=on|lk=in}} (standard)
*{{convert|13623|LT|abbr=on}} (full)
| Ship length = {{convert|399|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|83|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft = {{convert|31|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="jfs85 p772">Moore 1985, p. 772.</ref>
| Ship power = *Six Alco 16V-251F [[diesel engine]]s (6{{nbsp}}×{{nbsp}}{{convert|3,000|hp|abbr=on}})
*Three [[Pratt & Whitney]] [[Pratt & Whitney J75|FT-4A12]] [[gas turbine]]s (3{{nbsp}}×{{nbsp}}{{convert|25,000|hp|abbr=on}})
| Ship propulsion = *Combined diesel-electric or gas (CODLOG)
*Three shafts; [[Variable-pitch propeller (marine)|controllable-pitch propeller]]s
| Ship speed = *{{convert|18|kn}}
*{{convert|3|kn}} in {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=on}} ice
| Ship range = *{{convert|16000|nmi}} at {{convert|18|kn}}
*{{convert|28275|nmi}} at {{convert|13|kn}}
| Ship complement = 18 officers
127 enlisted
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship armament =
| Ship armor = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''USCGC ''Polar Star'' (WAGB-10)''' is a [[United States Coast Guard]] heavy [[icebreaker]]. Commissioned in 1976, the ship was built by [[Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company]] of [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] along with [[sister ship]], {{USCGC|Polar Sea}}.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcPolarStar/History.asp |title=USCGC Polar Star - History |publisher=www.uscg.mil |access-date=2009-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308044955/http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcPolarStar/History.asp |archive-date=2010-03-08 |url-status=dead }} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

[[Home port|Homeported]] in Seattle, ''Polar Star'' operates under the control of [[Coast Guard Pacific Area]] and coordinates her operations through the Ice Operations Section of the United States Coast Guard. After ''Polar Sea'' was deactivated in 2010, ''Polar Star'' became the US's only heavy icebreaker. The Coast Guard's only other icebreaker, {{USCGC|Healy}}, despite being classified as a "medium icebreaker", is larger than ''Polar Star'' (16,000 long tons versus 13,623 long tons, respectively), but needs assistance from a heavy icebreaker like ''Polar Star'' to operate in the Antarctic.

Replacement ships for what is called the [[Polar Security Cutter program]] have been ordered for a new generation of USCG icebreakers.

==Design==
In August 1971 the Secretary of Transportation announced awarding of a contract to [[Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company]] of [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], "to build the world's most powerful icebreaker for the US Coast Guard," ''Polar Star'', the first of two Polar-class icebreakers.<ref name="history" />

The ship's three shafts are turned by either a [[Diesel–electric transmission|diesel-electric]] or gas turbine [[Prime mover (locomotive)|prime mover]]. Each shaft is connected to a {{convert|16|ft|m|adj=on}} diameter, four-bladed, controllable-pitch [[propeller]]. The diesel-electric plant can produce {{convert|18,000|shp|MW|lk=in}}, and the gas turbine plant a total of {{convert|75,000|shp|MW}}.<ref name="history"/>

''Polar Star''{{'}}s shell plating and associated internal support structure are fabricated from steel that has especially good low-temperature strength. The portion of the hull designed to break ice is {{convert|1.75|in|mm}} thick in the [[bow (watercraft)|bow]] and [[stern]] sections, and {{convert|1.25|in|mm}} thick amidships. The curved bow allows ''Polar Star'' to ride up on the ice, using the ship's weight to break the ice.<ref name="history"/>

The 13,000-ton (13,200-metric ton) ''Polar Star'' is able to break through ice up to {{convert|21|ft|m}} thick by backing and ramming, and can steam continuously through {{convert|6|ft|m}} of ice at {{convert|3|kn|km/h|lk=in}}.<ref name="history"/>

Later upgrades allowed it to serve as a scientific research platform with five laboratories, additional space for seven portable laboratories on deck and accommodations for up to 35 scientists.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=National Science Foundation|title=National Science Foundation: Need for Additional Icebreaking Research Vessel Not Demonstrated|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-77/html/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-77.htm}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=United States Coast Guard|title=The Challenges of Meeting The High Latitude Mission Today and Tomorrow|url=https://www.unols.org/sites/default/files/200306aicap04.pdf}}</ref>

== Operational history ==
In May and early June 1976 ''Polar Star'' conducted ice trials in the Arctic regions during Arctic West Summer (AWS76) operations. The starboard controllable pitch propeller failed, followed up shortly by the same type of failure on the port propeller. Removal of the wing propellers and opening of the hubs revealed massive failures of the links, link bearings, and drive pins. While the centerline propeller functioned satisfactorily, it too displayed evidence of incipient failure of the link bearings. Propeller issues continued through 1977-1988, leading Coast Guard to invoke the warranty clause of the [[Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company]].

[[File:Uscgc polar star.jpg|thumb|left|The upward angle of ''Polar Star''{{'}}s bow is designed so that the hull rides up onto the ice surface during icebreaking operations. Subsequently, the ship's weight and forward motion combine to fracture the ice.]]

''Polar Star'' has supported [[National Science Foundation]] and [[United States Antarctic Program]] objectives in the [[Antarctic]], breaking a channel through the [[fast ice]] to resupply the [[McMurdo Station]] in the [[Ross Sea]] and the close quarter ice escorts of [[Military Sealift Command]] resupply ships through the channel in support of [[Operation Deep Freeze]], which deliver food, fuel, and other goods to the station annually.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-03-08|title=USCGC Polar Star - History|url=http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcPolarStar/History.asp|access-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308044955/http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcPolarStar/History.asp|archive-date=2010-03-08}}</ref> ''Polar Star'' is the only ship in the United States' fleet capable of breaking the fast ice in [[McMurdo Sound]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-02|title=Meet the neglected 43-year-old stepchild of the U.S. military-industrial complex|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-08-02/antarctica-polar-star-icebreaker|access-date=2021-05-02|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Polar Star'' also delivered inspectors from the [[U. S. Antarctic Inspection team]] to foreign outposts for the purpose of [[Antarctic Treaty Inspections]].

[[Arctic]] deployments occur regularly, including the annual resupply of [[Thule Air Base]], [[Greenland]], as well as science and power projection based operations referred to as Arctic East Summer (AES), Arctic West Summer (AWS), and Arctic West Winter (AWW).

In the 1997–1998 season, the ship supported the [[New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme]]. In February 1998 ''Polar Star'' received a report from the ''Green Wave'' that they were disabled and adrift off [[Cape Adare]]. Arriving on scene the next day ''Polar Star'' took the ''Green Wave'' in tow and proceeded on a 12-day 1,515 mile transit to [[Lyttelton, New Zealand]]. This was the first visit by a military vessel of the United States to New Zealand in 13 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=T-AK 2050 Green Wave|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military//systems////////ship/tak-2050.htm|access-date=2021-05-02|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>

=== Reserve status — Overhaul ===
The ship was placed in reserve, or "Commission-Special" status, in 2006 and stationed in Seattle. A 26 February 2008 report by the Congressional Research Service estimated a US$400 million cost for a 25-year service life extension refit for ''Polar Star'', a US$56 million cost for an 8 to 10-year service life extension refit or US$8.2 million cost for a single season service life extension refit.<ref name="NavyTimes20080325" /> This caretaker status required a reduced crew of 44 to keep the ship ready for a possible return to the ice. In 2009, the NSF announced that they would end funding for maintaining the ship.<ref name=NavyTimes20080325>{{cite news
| url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/coastguard_icebreakers_032408w/
| title=CG Steps Up Bid to Rescue Icebreaker Funding
| newspaper=[[Navy Times]]
| last=Ewing
| first=Philip
| publisher=Gannett Government Media
| date=2008-03-25
| access-date=2008-03-01
| quote=And it laid out a set of options for the Coast Guard's Arctic capability, which included:...25-year service life extensions for the older ships, at a cost of about $400 million per ship.
| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104022454/http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/coastguard_icebreakers_032408w/
| archive-date=2013-01-04
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

The ship was reactivated for overhaul, which took four years and was completed by Seattle's [[Vigor Shipyards]] (formerly Todd Pacific shipyard), at a cost of US$57 million. ''Polar Star'' was back in operation in late 2013, and assigned to Antarctic operations as part of [[Operation Deep Freeze]] in early 2014 for the first time since 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nbcnews.com/science/how-icebreakers-work-sometimes-dont-work-2D11821223 |publisher= NBC News |date= 2013-12-30 |access-date= 2013-12-31 |author= Alan Boyle |title= How icebreakers work — and why they sometimes don't work |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234916/http://www.nbcnews.com/science/how-icebreakers-work-sometimes-dont-work-2D11821223 |archive-date= 2013-12-30 |url-status= live }}</ref>

===Return to service===
[[File:Ocean Giant Follows Polar Star (47579889531).jpg|thumb|left|Polar Star makes a channel for a cargo ship, 2019]]
On [[Christmas]] 2020, ''Polar Star'' reached 72 degrees 11 minutes north, the farthest north any US government surface vessel has reached in the winter. The Arctic West Winter mission included travel in heavy ice in total darkness and joint exercises with Russian aircraft at the US Russian maritime boundary in the [[Bering Sea]].<ref name="Bernton">{{cite news |last=Bernton |first=Hal |date=2020-02-21 |title=Seattle-based Coast Guard icebreaker returns home after first mission in nearly 40 years to wintertime Arctic |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-based-coast-guard-icebreaker-returns-home-after-first-mission-in-nearly-40-years-to-wintertime-arctic/ |work=the Seattle Times |location=Seattle, Washington |access-date=2020-02-21 }}</ref> During the deployment ''Polar Star'' made port calls in [[Dutch Harbor]] and [[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]], [[Alaska]].
[[File:Moored Seattle.jpg|alt=Moon over Polar Star|thumb|Moored Base Seattle]]

On Jan 13, 2021 the Coast Guard awarded Mare Island Dry Dock LLC of [[Vallejo, California]] a contract to carry out a comprehensive overhaul of ''Polar Star'' under the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).  The contracted SLEP work, along with normal periodic shipyard maintenance, was planned to take place over five years, from 2021 through 2025, in annual shipyard visits that would not interfere with the icebreaker's operational commitments such as Operation Deep Freeze.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2021-01-13 |title=Coast Guard awards Polar Star service life extension contract |url=https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/2471356/coast-guard-awards-polar-star-service-life-extension-contract/ |work=Assistant Commandant for Acquisitions (CG-9) Newsroom: Latest Acquisition News |publisher=United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security |access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>

On Sept. 1, 2022 ''Polar Star'' returned to its Seattle homeport after completing sea trials for the second phase of SLEP work.  The phase was completed in Seattle after her return. Two control and monitoring systems for the ship's propulsion system were replaced by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division and the [[Coast Guard Yard]], and the ship's galley was rebuilt.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2022-09-01 |title=Polar Star arrives at homeport after completion of dock work and sea trials during second phase of service life extension project |url=https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/3147541/polar-star-arrives-at-homeport-after-completion-of-dock-work-and-sea-trials-dur/ |work=Assistant Commandant for Acquisitions (CG-9) Newsroom: Latest Acquisition News |publisher=United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security |access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref> The third phase of SLEP work was completed on October 20, 2023, and included updates to communications, fire detection, and water-quality monitoring equipment.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2023-10-20 |title=Coast Guard completes third phase of Polar Star service life extension program |url=https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/3563117/coast-guard-completes-third-phase-of-polar-star-service-life-extension-program/ |publisher=United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security |access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref> The fourth phase included extensive work on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; replacement of the boilers which provide heat and fresh water; and redesign of the flooding detection system. This phase ended on August 30, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2024-08-30 |url=https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/3891099/coast-guard-completes-fourth-phase-of-service-life-extension-work-on-polar-star/ |work=Assistant Commandant for Acquisitions (CG-9) Newsroom: Latest Acquisition News |publisher=United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security |access-date=2025-11-14|title=Coast Guard completes fourth phase of service life extension work on Polar Star}}</ref>

From November 22, 2024 to April 2, 2025 ''Polar Star'' was underway to support Operation Deep Freeze 2025 in Antarctica, its 28th voyage to the continent. Afterwards, ''Polar Star'' went directly to Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo to complete the final SLEP year. Among other tasks, one of the ship's nine diesel engines was overhauled, important work was done on sanitary systems, and work continued on heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The center propeller shaft was removed for maintenance and all three propellers were replaced, as were the gyrocompass repeaters. Afterwards, ''Polar Star'' finally returned to its homeport of Seattle, arriving on Sept 25, 2025 after 308 days away.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2025-09-25 |title=Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star returns to Seattle after 308 days |url=https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4314343/coast-guard-cutter-polar-star-returns-to-seattle-after-308-days/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20completion%20of%20this%20extensive,to%20complete%20annual%20polar%20deployments |location=Seattle, Washington |publisher=United States Coast Guard |agency=Department of Homeland Security |access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>

Over the course of its service life, ''Polar Star'' has steamed in all five oceans, made calls in more than 60 ports across six continents; circumnavigated North America, South America, and Antarctica (likely the first such [[circumnavigation]] since 1843 as well as the first to do so completely poleward of 60<sup>o</sup>); rounded Cape Horn, transited the North West Passage, and [[Circumnavigation|circumnavigated]] Earth.  Operational highlights include Deep Freeze '83 - the circumnavigation of Antarctica completed in 69 days ferrying U.S. State Department inspectors to 14 scientific research stations, assisting with waterside security during the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, completing the first solo breakout of McMurdo Sound ([[Operation Deep Freeze]] 1988), seven consecutive [[Operation Deep Freeze]] missions between 2014 and 2020, as well as reaching 72 degrees 11 minutes north (the farthest north any US government surface vessel reached in the winter).  Since its commissioning on January 17, 1976, ''Polar Star''{{'}}s 28 deployments in support of [[Operation Deep Freeze]] through 2025 are second only to [[USS Glacier (AGB-4)|USCGC ''Glacier'' (WAGB-4)]] and her 29 Deep Freeze missions.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{DANFS}}
*{{USCG}}
* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/default.asp U.S. Department of Homeland Security. United States Coast Guard Historian's Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916081043/http://www.uscg.mil/history/default.asp |date=2008-09-16 }}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Baker|first=A. D.|title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999|year=1998|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland, USA|isbn=1-55750-111-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Moore|first=John|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86|year=1985|publisher=Jane's Yearbooks|location=London|isbn=0-7106-0814-4}}

==External links==
{{commons category|USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080829170910/http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/arctic/ Arctic Exploration Online]

{{Polar-class icebreaker}}
{{US Coast Guard navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polar Star (WAGB-10)}}
[[Category:Polar-class icebreakers]]
[[Category:1976 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company]]