USCG Polar Class Icebreaker
Encyclopedia
USCG Polar-capable heavy icebreaker
s consist of three vessels, USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10), USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11), and USCGC Healy (WAGB-20). Polar Star and Polar Sea comprise the Polar class, while Healy is a larger, more modern design and constitutes an entirely different polar-capable icebreaker class. These cutters, specifically designed for open-water icebreaking, have reinforced hulls, special icebreaking bows, and a system that allows rapid shifting of ballast to increase the effectiveness of their icebreaking. These vessels conduct Arctic
and Antarctic research and are the primary icebreakers which clear the channel into McMurdo Station
for supply ships. All are homeported out of Seattle, Washington
.
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
s consist of three vessels, USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10), USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11), and USCGC Healy (WAGB-20). Polar Star and Polar Sea comprise the Polar class, while Healy is a larger, more modern design and constitutes an entirely different polar-capable icebreaker class. These cutters, specifically designed for open-water icebreaking, have reinforced hulls, special icebreaking bows, and a system that allows rapid shifting of ballast to increase the effectiveness of their icebreaking. These vessels conduct Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
and Antarctic research and are the primary icebreakers which clear the channel into McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National...
for supply ships. All are homeported out of Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.
Healy specifications
- Length: 420 feet (128 m)
- Beam: 82 feet (25 m)
- Designed draft: 29 feet (8.8 m)
- Displacement : 16,000 tons
- Propulsion: Diesel Electric, AC/AC CycloconverterCycloconverterA cycloconverter or a cycloinverter converts an AC waveform, such as the mains supply, to another AC waveform of a lower frequency, synthesizing the output waveform from segments of the AC supply without an intermediate direct-current link . They are most commonly used in three-phase...
- Shaft horsepower (2 shafts): 30,000 hp (22 MW) max
- Commissioned: June 1999
Polar class specifications
- Length: 399 feet (121.6 m)
- Beam: 83.5 feet (25.5 m)
- Designed draft: 28 feet (8.5 m)
- Top of mast above waterline: 138 feet (42.1 m)
- Displacement at designed draft: 13,194 tons
- Propulsion: Diesel Electric or Gas Turbine
- Shaft horsepower (3 shafts): 18,000 hp (diesel), 60,000 hp (gas turbine), 75,000 hp (demand thrust)
- Potable water (100%): 26,586 US gallons (101 m³)
- General cargo: 400 tons
- Cargo volume (upper/lower hold): 350/250 m³
- Maximum cargo dimensions: 7 by 11 by 7 ft (2.1 by 3.4 by 2.1 m)
- Commissioned: 1976 & 1978