Fire burst out when 43 years of age Polar Star was 650 miles north of Antractica
UNITED STATE Coast Guard Pacific Area today launched images taken when a burner area fire burst out on the USCG’s only functional hefty icebreaker, Polar Star, 650 miles north of Antarctica.
According to the Coast Guard, the event happened on the night ofFeb 10, 2019. The cutter collection General Emergency and also its staff invested 2 hrs fighting the fire prior to it was snuffed out.
After first action initiatives utilizing 4 fire extinguishers stopped working, fire staffs invested virtually 2 hrs snuffing out the fire. ‘
Fire damages was included inside the burner real estate, while firefighting water made use of to cool down exhaust pipeline in the bordering location harmed a number of electric systems and also insulation in the area.
Repairs are currently being prepared for the Polar Star’s upcoming upkeep duration. The burner will certainly require to be complete practical prior to following year’s goal.
No injuries were reported, and also the root cause of the fire is under examination.
“It’s always a serious matter whenever a shipboard fire breaks out at sea, and it’s even more concerning when that ship is in one of the most remote places on Earth,” claimedVice Adm Linda Fagan, leader of the united state Coast Guard’sPacific Area “The crew of the Polar Star did an outstanding job – their expert response and determination ensured the safety of everyone aboard.”
Commissioned in 1976, the 43-year old ship is running past its anticipated 30-year life span. The Polar Star staff lately finished Operation Deep Freeze, a yearly joint army solution goal on behalf of the National Science Foundation, the lead firm for the United States Antarctic Program.
NOT THE ONLY OCCURRENCE
The Feb 10 fire was not the very first design casualty encountered by the Polar Star staff this implementation. While en path to Antarctica, among the ship’s electric systems started to smoke, triggering damages to electrical wiring in an electric switchboard, and also among the ship’s 2 evaporators made use of to make drinkable water stopped working. The electric switchboard was fixed by the staff, and also the ship’s evaporator was fixed after components were obtained throughout a port contact Wellington, New Zealand.
The ship additionally experienced a prop shaft leakage that stopped icebreaking procedures while diving divers weht right into the water to fix the seal around the shaft. A hyperbaric chamber on lending from the united state Navy aboard the ship permits Coast Guard scuba divers to make exterior emergency situation repair work and also assessments of the ship’s hull mixed-up.
The Polar Star additionally experienced ship-wide power failures while damaging ice. Crew participants invested 9 hrs closing down the ship’s nuclear power plant and also restarting the electric system in order to treat the failures.
The Coast Guard has actually been the single service provider of America’s polar icebreaking ability considering that 1965, and also is looking for to enhance its icebreaking fleet with 6 brand-new Polar Security Cutters in order to make sure ongoing nationwide visibility and also accessibility to the Polar Regions.
The costs expense authorized right into regulation February 15 by President Trump offers $655 million for manufacturing of the very first Polar Security Cutter (PSC) hefty icebreaker and also $20 million for lengthy preparation products momentarily PSC.
