USCGC Polar Sea
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Builder | Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, WA |
| Commissioned | 1977 |
| Motto | Always Summer, Never Warm |
| Nickname(s) | Building 11, Polar Roller, What a Great Boat, Wandering Arctic Garbage Barge, Red Tubs of Fun, We Always Go Bye-Bye[1] |
| Status | Out of service since 2010[2] |
| General characteristics [3] | |
| Class and type | Template:Sclass2- |
| Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 10,863 long tons (11,037 t) (standard) 13,623 long tons (13,842 t) (full) |
| Length | 399 ft (122 m) |
| Beam | 83 ft 6 in (25.45 m) |
| Draft | 31 ft (9.4 m)[4] |
| Installed power | list error: <br /> list (help) Six Alco 16V-251F diesel engines (6 × 3,000 hp) Three Pratt & Whitney FT-4A12 gas turbines (3 × 25,000 hp) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) Combined diesel-electric or gas (CODLOG) Three shafts; controllable pitch propellers |
| Speed | list error: <br /> list (help) 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 6-foot (1.8 m) ice |
| Range | list error: <br /> list (help) 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) |
| Complement | list error: <br /> list (help) 15 officers 127 enlisted 33 scientists 12-person helicopter detachment |
| Aircraft carried | 2 HH-65C Dolphin helicopters |
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 (WAGB-10). Her home port is Seattle, Washington.
Polar Sea has been out of service since 2010 due to complete failure of five of its six engines. Examination of its engines indicated excessive engine wear, with engine pistons welded to their sleeves. [5] In 2011 the Coast Guard slated the Polar Sea for demolition in 2012,[6] but the scrapping of the 35-year-old icebreaker was postponed by Congress for at least six months in June.[2] A congressional authorization required the Coast Guard to make a report to congress on the feasibility of retrofitting the Polar Sea. The report was submitted in November 2013 and indicated that it is feasible to retrofit and reactivate the Polar Sea.[7]
Machinery
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 extensive use of automation and low maintenance materials have greatly reduced staffing requirements.
Polar Sea's three shafts are each turned by either a two diesel-electric or one gas turbine power plants. Each shaft is connected to a 16-foot (4.9-m) diameter, four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller. 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).[8]
Hull design and strength
Polar Sea has sufficient hull strength to absorb the high-powered ice ramming common to her operations. The shell plating and associated internal support structure are fabricated from steel with superior low-temperature strength. 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. The hull strength is produced almost entirely from a sophisticated internal support structure that features canted ribs for approximately the forward two-thirds of the ship's frame. 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. The curved bow and heavy weight allows Polar Sea to force ice edges to break off downward as cusps. Contrary to some myths, 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. 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.
Crew
Operations in the remote, hazardous and unforgiving polar regions make it necessary for the crew of Polar Sea to be highly self-sufficient. 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. 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. There is a crew of 24 officers, 20 chief petty officers and 102 enlisted.[8] The ship has four sizable lounges, a library (recently converted), a gymnasium (in an engineering space), and a small ship's store. It also has its own U.S. Post Office, satellite pay telephones, amateur radio equipment, photo lab, and movie library.
Missions
Polar Sea has a variety of missions while operating in polar regions. During Antarctic deployments, the primary missions include breaking a channel through the sea ice to resupply the McMurdo Research Station in the Ross Sea. Resupply ships use the channel to bring food, fuel, and other goods to make it through another winter. In addition to these duties, Polar Sea also serves as a scientific research platform with five laboratories, additional space for seven portable laboratories on deck and accommodations for up to 35 scientists.[9] 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.
Aircraft carried
Polar Sea carries two HH-65 Dolphin helicopters during major deployments. They support scientific parties, do ice reconnaissance, cargo transfer, and search and rescue as required. The Aviation Detachment comes from the Polar Operations Division at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center, Mobile, Alabama.
Notable operations
In nautical history, Polar Sea holds several notable records. It is one of only three ships[clarification needed] that has ever completely transited the Arctic Ocean and circumnavigated North America. On 22 August 1994, Polar Sea was one of the first two North American surface vessels to reach the North Pole; it sailed together with the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent.
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USCG Polar Sea, RV Nathaniel Palmer and tanker Paul Buck, in Antarctica
1985 controversy
In 1985, the Polar Sea triggered a diplomatic event by navigating the Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska without formal authorization from the Canadian government. 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. 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 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.
Refit plans
On March 25, 2008 the Navy Times described options for the refit or replacement of the older Polar-class vessels.[10] The four options laid out were:
plan cost notes replacement $925 million each full refit $400 million each Would make the vessel good for another 25 years. minor refit $56 million each Would make the vessel good for another seven to ten years. one season refit $8 million Good for just one season's deployment.
On June 16, 2008 the US Coast Guard announced that the Polar Sea would undergo a $6.3 million refit in the Todd Shipyards in Seattle.[11] The refit was expected to be completed by September 2008.
On May 21, 2009, Todd Shipyards announced it had been awarded an additional $5,515,503 for its maintenance of the Polar Sea.[12]
On February 15, 2011, the Coast Guard via ALCOAST 059/11 announced that the Polar Sea would be decommissioned by September 2011; however no final decision on her fate has been made as of January, 2014.
References
- ^ U.S. Department of Homeland Security. United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Cutternicknames.pdf Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ a b Reprieve for Seattle-based icebreaker Polar Sea. Seattle Times, 15 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- ^ Baker 1998, p. 1119.
- ^ Moore 1985, p. 772.
- ^ http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL34391.pdf
- ^ "USCG Message". USCG. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
- ^ http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2022396191_ricklarsenopedicebreakers05xml.html
- ^ a b "USCGC Polar Sea". USCGC. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
- ^ "USCGC Polar Sea". USCGC. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
- ^ "Todd Shipyards Corporation Announces U.S. Coast Guard Exercise of Option on Overhaul of USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11)". Earth Times. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ "Todd Shipyards Corporation Announces U.S. Coast Guard Exercise of Option on Overhaul of USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11)". Earth Times. 2009-05-21. Archived from the original on 2009-05-21.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Coast Guard.
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security. United States Coast Guard Historian's Office.http://www.uscg.mil/history/default.asp
Bibliography
- Baker, A. D. (1998). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
- Moore, John (1985). Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0814-4.
External links
