uscgc polar sea engine failure

Later, on January 16, the Coast Guard says the Polar Star’s shaft seal failed, causing flooding in the cutter’s engine room at a rate of approximately 20-gallons per minute. The Polar Star, which was commissioned in 1976, is the Coast Guard's only operational heavy icebreaker, and it can break ice up to 21 feet thick. The crew supported the NSF by cutting a resupply channel through 15 miles of Antarctic ice in the Ross Sea and escorting supply vessels to the continent. Publication of the plans enraged the Canadian public opinion as it was regarded as a breach and disregard of sovereignty and prompted the government to take preventive measures in defending Canada's arctic territories. The Coast Guard cutter Polar Star breaks ice in McMurdo Sound near Antarctica, January 10, 2018. The Coast Guard also operates the medium polar icebreaker USCGC Healy, commissioned in 1999, which serves in the Arctic primarily on research … this design does not use sharp edges or hammer-like blows to cut or break the ice, as the round bow and massive weight are sufficient. USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11): US Coast Guard Photo - The question of whether the Polar Sea should be reactivated has been kicking around for a while. Polar Sea uses four different methods of electronic navigation to overcome the difficulties of high-latitude operations, and a computerized propulsion control system to effectively manage six diesel-powered propulsion generators, three diesel-powered ship's service generators, three propulsion gas turbines, and other equipment vital to the operation of the ship. The curved bow and heavy weight allows Polar Sea to force ice edges to break off downward as cusps. During Antarctic deployments, the primary missions include breaking a channel through the sea ice to resupply the McMurdo Station in the Ross Sea. . The U.S. never recognized Canada's claim over the Northwest passage but nevertheless, the two countries reached an agreement two years later which stipulated that in the future, the U.S. would ask permission before navigating the disputed waters. Commissioned on 23 February 1978, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship, Polar Star (WAGB-10). [8] In 2011 the Coast Guard slated Polar Sea for demolition in 2012,[9] but the scrapping of the 35-year-old icebreaker was postponed by Congress for at least six months in June. "[16], A condition assessment of Polar Sea in August 2016 indicated that only one out of six of the 1,200 system components were supportable for five years or more. Le USCGC Polar Sea est un brise-glace de l'United States Coast Guard des États-Unis. Polar Sea has been sidelined since 2010, when an engine casualty left the ship immobilized. The report was submitted in November 2013 and indicated that it is feasible to retrofit and reactivate Polar Sea. The Coast Guard's only heavy icebreaker has been fighting engine failure and flooding in the frigid Antarctic, "Although we had less ice this year than last year, we had several engineering challenges to overcome to get to the point where we could position ourselves to moor in McMurdo," Polar Star commanding officer Capt. Members of the Coast Guard cutter Polar Star's engineering department make repairs in the ship's motor room while in the Ross Sea near Antarctica, January 16, 2018. USCGC POLAR SEA (WAGB 11) Coast Guard Cutter POLAR SEA (WAGB 11) is one of the world's most powerful, conventionally propelled icebreakers. USCGC Polar Star and USCGC Polar Sea were commissioned in 1976 and 1977 respectively. Disabled fishing vessel Antarctic Chieftain is towed astern of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star through sea ice near Antarctica, Feb. 14, 2015. Would make the vessel good for another 25 years. 4005; 113th Congress), a bill that would amend laws that govern the activities of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Maritime Administration (MARAD) within the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The shell plating and associated internal support structure are fabricated from steel with superior low-temperature strength. POLAR SEA was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle. Details for the ship Uscgc Polar Sea , Other Ship with current real time AIS position and ship photos by vesseltracker.com. With high power to back it up, the 13,000-ton (13,200-metric ton) Polar Sea is able to continuously progress through 6 feet (1.8 m) of new hard ice at 3 knots (6 km/h) and break up to 21 feet when using back-and-ram methods. Her home port is Seattle, Washington. [2] A congressional authorization required the Coast Guard to make a report to Congress on the feasibility of retrofitting Polar Sea. The four options laid out were: On June 16, 2008 the US Coast Guard announced that Polar Sea would undergo a $6.3 million refit in the Todd Shipyards in Seattle. The cost of repairing Polar Sea would be astronomical to consider, Raj said. The extensive use of automation and low maintenance materials have greatly reduced staffing requirements. On March 25, 2008 the Navy Times described options for the refit or replacement of the older Polar-class vessels. Examination of her engines indicated excessive engine wear, with engine pistons welded to their sleeves. Commissioned on 23 February 1977, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship, Polar Star (WAGB-10). The Aviation Detachment comes from the Polar Operations Division at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center, Mobile, Alabama. The crew consists of personnel trained in navigation, engineering, welding, machinery repair, electronics, boat handling, firefighting, damage control, diving, medicine, and nearly every other kind of special skill that could possibly be needed. Would make the vessel good for another seven to ten years. Today, the Coast Guard announced the 399-foot Cutter POLAR SEA suffered an unexpected engine casualty and will be unable to deploy on its scheduled fall 2010 Arctic patrol and may be unavailable for Operation Deep Freeze, Dec. 20 to Jan 2, 2011. The first one is expected by 2023. In nautical history, Polar Sea holds several notable records. It also has its own U.S. Post Office, satellite pay telephones, amateur radio equipment, photo lab, and movie library. Polar Sea's three shafts are each turned by either a two diesel-electric or one gas turbine power plants. Homeported in Seattle since being commissioned in 1977, POLAR SEA has operated around the globe. McMurdo Station, opened in December 1955, is the largest Antarctic station, located on the solid ground farthest south that is accessible by ship. Mis en service en 1977, il a été construit par Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company à Harbor Island avec son sister-ship USCGC Polar Star. It was the United States’ position that the Northwest Passage was an international strait open to shipping and it sought only to notify Canada rather than ask for permission. Polar Sea carried two HH-65 Dolphin helicopters during major deployments. The Polar Star's sister ship, the Polar Sea, was commissioned the same year but left service in 2010 because of repeated failures in its main engines. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. WAGB-11 USCGC Polar Sea, Polar class Icebreakers, US Coast Guard history and characteristics There is a crew of 24 officers, 20 chief petty officers and 102 enlisted. US Coast Guard/Chief Petty Officer Nick Ameen. Vice Commandant Adm. Charles Michel says the only choices for continuing the icebreaker missions are either restoring Polar Star while in service or reactivating Polar Sea, at a to be determined cost; this estimate is due in early 2017, so at that time lawmakers will likely decide the ship's fate. In September, USCG Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft likened the Polar Sea to “an old car that's been laid up without an engine in it, an engine that's been stripped of its parts . For years, having only one working heavy icebreaker hindered the Coast Guard’s ability to satisfy mission requests from government agencies effectively. February 15, 2015 Total Views: 2 The portion of the hull designed to ram ice is 1¾ inches thick (44 mm) in the bow and stern sections, and 1¼ inches thick (32 mm) amidships. In 1985, Polar Sea triggered a diplomatic event by navigating the Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska without authorization from the Canadian government. The Coast Guard also operates the medium polar icebreaker USCGC Healy, commissioned in 1999, which serves in the Arctic primarily on research projects, although capable of performing a wide variety of other Coast Guard missions. Requires the Commandant to submit to Congress: (1) a strategy to meet the Coast Guard's Arctic ice operations needs through September 30, 2050; and (2) unless the Secretary determines that it is cost-effective to reactivate Polar Sea, a bridging strategy for maintaining the Coast Guard's polar icebreaking services until at least September 30, 2024 (currently, a bridging strategy for maintaining operations until at least September 30, 2022, is required only if the Secretary determines that it is not cost-effective to reactivate Polar Sea). While traversing 1000 miles of sea ice, the Polar Sea was able to break through ice up to 40 ft thick (USCG Commandant's Bulletin 14-81, March 30, 1981, page 11). It was slated for demolition in 2012, but the scrapping of the 35-year … [6] The "J"-shaped cranes and work areas near the stern and port side of ship give scientists the capability to do at-sea studies in the fields of geology, vulcanology, oceanography, sea-ice physics and other disciplines. The crew of the Polar Star overcame flooding and engine failure to accomplish their mission supporting Operation Deep Freeze. Il a été mis hors service en 2010 à cause de l'usure excessive de ses moteurs diesel. They support scientific parties, do ice reconnaissance, cargo transfer, and search and rescue as required. [7] She is also just one of only three ships[clarification needed] that has ever completely transited the Arctic Ocean and circumnavigated North America. Each shaft is connected to a 16-foot (4.9-m) diameter, four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller. A root cause analysis apparently traced the problem to improper installation of piston rings and/or installation of incorrect (chromed vs. plain) rings. Curt Dawson, a deck engineer for Foss was on the assist tug and offer this description of the trip. The extensive use of automation and low maintenance materials have greatly reduced staffing requirements. PTI TRS GJS GJS TIR TIR, Apple doubles its India market share this winter thanks to the launch of its online store and sales of iPhone 11, XR and 12, Master Business Fundamentals from Wharton. Duty on an icebreaker is long and strenuous, especially when it involves being away from homeport for up to eight months out of the year. On 22 August 1994, Polar Sea was one of the first two North American surface vessels to reach the North Pole; she sailed together with CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent. Resupply ships use the channel to bring food, fuel, and other goods to make it through another winter. USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker. The extensive use of automation and low maintenance materials have greatly reduced staffing requirements. 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 6-foot (1.8 m) ice, 16,000 nautical miles (30,000 km; 18,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), 28,275 nautical miles (52,365 km; 32,538 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), This page was last edited on 23 January 2021, at 17:16. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star got closer to Santa’s home than most as they set a record for the northernmost wintertime navigation by a … [12] USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker.Commissioned in 1977, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship, Polar Star.Her home port is Seattle, Washington.. Polar Sea has been out of service since 2010 due to complete failure of five of her six Alco main diesel engines. [5] Polar Sea has been out of service since 2010 due to engine failure. Her home port is Seattle, Washington. 13-15 feet thick. This is the USCG Polar Sea Ice Breaker just after it turned the corner towards the ice dock. Times Syndication Service. [17] In February 2017, it was stated that Polar Sea would not be refurbished due to high cost; instead, the icebreaker would be used as a "parts donor" for Polar Star.[18]. US Coast Guard/Chief Petty Officer Nick Ameen. Its average temperature in January, which is a summer month, is 26 degrees Fahrenheit. En … The Polar Star's crew traced the problem to a programming error between the engine and the ship's electrical system - which, like much of the ship, dates back to the 1970s. Homeported in Seattle, Washington, Polar Sea and Polar Star operate under the control of Pacific Area and coordinate their operations through the Ice Operations Section of the United States Coast Guard. The vessel Ocean Giant lines up with the US Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star for escort to McMurdo Station, January 25, 2017. Today, “Polar Star” remains in proud isolation in the linear icebreaker fleet of the United States, and the “Polar Sea” of the same type has been turned into a spare parts warehouse for its sister ship. USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker. Polar Star'sthree shafts are … The Polar Star's crew traced the problem to a programming error between the engine and the ship's electrical system — which, like much of the ship, … Polar Sea has sufficient hull strength to absorb the high-powered ice ramming common to her operations. The proposed new icebreaker is projected to cost about… . $5,515,503 for its maintenance of Polar Sea.[14]. Polar Sea has a variety of missions while operating in polar regions. [10] As of February 25, 2015[update] the laid up ship was still in limbo alongside a pier at the Coast Guard Station on Elliott Bay, Seattle. Barrow, Alaska between January 29 and February 11, 1981. United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Commissioned on 23 February 1978, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship, Polar Star (WAGB-10). Polar Sea uses four different methods[further explanation needed][example needed] of electronic navigation to overcome the difficulties of high-latitude operations, and a computerized propulsion control system to effectively manage six diesel-powered propulsion generators, three diesel-powered ship's service generators, three propulsion gas turbines, and other equipment vital to the operation of the ship. Polar Sea has been out of service since 2010, when it suffered a major engine failure. Polar Sea has been out of service since 2010 due to complete failure of five of her six … Christopher Woody/Google MapsMcMurdo Station, opened in December 1955, is the largest Antarctic station, located on the solid ground farthest south that is accessible by ship. In April 2014, the United States House of Representatives considered the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (H.R. Her home port is Seattle, Washington. Polar Star underwent an overhaul in 2013 and has returned to service. The Coast Guard’s ability to run Arctic and Antarctic missions has been hampered since June 2010, when USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11), one of the service’s two heavy icebreakers, suffered a catastrophic engine failure. 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USCGC POLAR STAR (WAGB 10) Seattle, WA. Commissioned in 1976, she was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding along with her now decommissioned sister ship, POLAR SEA (WAGB 11). It is built on the southernmost patch of solid ground that is still accessible by ship. [15] One of the provisions of the bill, according to a summary by the Congressional Research Service, "authorizes the Commandant to decommission the icebreaker Polar Sea if the Secretary does not make a determination regarding whether it is cost-effective to reactivate such icebreaker. [5] The ship has four sizable lounges, a library (recently[when?] Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft has said the Polar Star is "literally on life support," and the service plans to build at least three heavy and three medium icebreakers to fill out the fleet. CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (H.R. After all, the Navy and the Coast Guard have been saying the country needs three heavy and three medium icebreakers. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. The crew of the USCGC Polar Star freed an Australian fishing vessel from thick pack ice Friday night approximately 900 miles northwest of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Homeported in Seattle, Washington, US Coast Guard Cutter POLAR STAR (WAGB 10) is the United States' only heavy icebreaker. Commissioned on 23 February 1977, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship, Polar Star (WAGB-10). For all three shafts, the diesel-electric plants can produce a total of 18,000 shaft horsepower (13,425 kilowatts) and the gas turbine plants a total of 75,000 demand shaft horsepower (56 MW) or 60,000 continuous horsepower (44.8 MW).[5]. (It has one medium icebreaker, the Healy, which mainly does scientific work.) POLAR SEA is designed to perform science, icebreaking, and all Coast … "If the Polar Star were to suffer a catastrophic mechanical failure, the nation would not be able to support heavy icebreaker missions like Operation Deep Freeze, and our nation has no vessel capable of rescuing the crew if the icebreakers were to fail in the ice," Midgette told Maritime Executive. Polar Star uses four different methods of electronic navigation to overcome the difficulties of high-latitude operations, and a computerized propulsion control system to effectively manage six diesel-powered propulsion generators, three diesel-powered ship's service generators, three propulsion gas turbines, and other equipment vital to the smooth operation of the ship. Polar Star underwent an overhaul in 2013 and has returned to service. Times Internet Limited. On January 11, there was a failure in one of the ship's three main gas turbines, which produce the power needed for the ship's propellers to break up thick, multiyear accumulations of ice. 4005; 113th Congress), http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Cutternicknames.pdf, Reprieve for Seattle-based icebreaker Polar Sea, "CG steps up bid to rescue icebreaker funding", "Todd Shipyards Corporation Announces U.S. Coast Guard Exercise of Option on Overhaul of USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11)", Coast Guard: Icebreaker Polar Sea Now a ‘Parts Donor;’ Refurbishment Deemed Too Expensive, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Polar Class Icebreaker vessel vital statistics, List of cutters of the United States Coast Guard, Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USCGC_Polar_Sea_(WAGB-11)&oldid=1002272023, Ships built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from May 2020, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from February 2020, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from July 2013, Articles containing potentially dated statements from February 2015, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the United States Coast Guard, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Michael Davanzo, The harsh conditions in the polar regions take a toll on the 41-year-old Polar Star. The refit was expected to be completed by September 2008. On May 21, 2009, Todd Shipyards announced it had been awarded an additional Summertime supply deliveries allow the station to stay open. Copyright © 2021. Polar Sea's hull shape is designed to maximize icebreaking by efficiently combining the forces of the ship's forward motion, the downward pull of gravity on the bow, and the upward push of the inherent buoyancy of the stern. Son port d'attache est Seattle et sa zone d'activité est le Pacifique et l'Antarctique. Uscgc Polar Sea - Other Ship, MMSI 367878000, Callsign NRU0, Flag United States of America - vesseltracker.com The Polar Star has not been exempt from its own problems. Operations in the remote, hazardous and unforgiving polar regions make it necessary for the crew of Polar Sea to be highly self-sufficient. USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker. USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker.Commissioned on 23 February 1977, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship, Polar Star.Her home port is Seattle, Washington.. Polar Sea has been out of service since 2010 due to failure of five of her six Alco main diesel engines. The ship is in good shape this year … It is breaking ice that is apx. Last year, it had its own engine fire which damaged the garbage incinerator housing and the effort to contain the fire caused damage to the electrical system. Polar Sea'sthree shafts are each tur… On 11 February 1981, Polar Sea made history when she became the first ship ever to reach Point Barrow, Alaska in the middle of winter. A second icebreaker, USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB 11) has not been operational since a 2010 engine failure and instead has for nearly a decade served as a parts donor to keep Polar Star running, USNI News reported in 2017. Polar Sea has been out of service since 2010 due to failure of five of her six Alco main diesel engines. The Coast Guard plans to decommission the ship by September 2011. USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker. An extreme exception to this occurred during a rapid transit to Pt. And rescue as required and/or installation of incorrect ( chromed vs. plain ).. Offer this description of the Polar Star for escort to McMurdo Station in the Ross Sea and this. In Seattle underwent an overhaul in 2013 and indicated that it is feasible to retrofit and Polar!, cargo transfer, and a small ship 's store the ice.. 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