USCGC Polar Star Battles Snow, Icebergs to Reach Stranded Fishing Vessel Off Antartica

The U.S. Coast Guard’s sole heavy icebreaker is constant to reply to a 207-foot fishing vessel caught in ice off Antarctica, battling snow, wind, massive icebergs, and heavy pack ice to succeed in the stranded vessel and crew.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star is making an attempt to succeed in the Australian-flagged fishing vessel, Antarctic Chieftain, with 26 onboard, which is beset in ice roughly 900 miles northeast of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. The crew of the vessel contacted the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand on Tuesday night, requesting help after changing into trapped within the Antarctic ice. The Antarctic Chieftain has suffered harm to a few of its 4 propeller blades and has misplaced its potential to maneuver.

According to Mr. Mike Hill, the supervisor of RCC New Zealand and Safety Services, the fishing boat’s hull was not broken and the crew of 26 shouldn’t be in danger. There has been no reported oil spill or environmental impression.

According to an replace Thursday night from the USCG, the USCGC Polar Star was situated about 125 miles from the Antarctic Chieftain and was scheduled to succeed in vessel at roughly 10 p.m. pacific commonplace time on Thursday night time. As of Friday morning, the USCG had given no affirmation that the Polar Star had reached the vessel as scheduled.

The crew of icebreaker has reported heavy, snow, wind and ice situations at instances in addition to massive icebergs.

“We are navigating through heavy pack ice, dodging massive ice bergs that range in size from a Home Depot to some that are miles across, often in low visibility conditions,” mentioned Capt. Matthew Walker, commanding officer of the Polar Star. “The mission…we are now engaged (in) demonstrates the Coast Guard’s core mission to save lives at sea – in any continents’ waters. Polar Star is proud to be able to assist New Zealand in the rescue of the Australian fishing vessel Antarctic Chieftain.”

On Wednesday, RCC New Zealand, a part of Maritime New Zealand, requested U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star to reply to the Antarctic Chieftain’s place. The 150-person crew of Polar Star was deployed to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, as a part of Operation Deep Freeze, which gives navy logistical help to the U.S. Antarctic Program managed by the National Science Foundation.

The Polar Star might want to break the ice across the Antarctic Chieftain to succeed in it. If the vessel’s propulsion is inoperable, the Polar Star might should tow the vessel from the ice subject.

“Towing is always challenging, this evolution poses more risk because of the harsh weather and extensive ice coverage,” mentioned Lt. j.g. Joel Wright, Polar Star’s operations officer.

Once the Antarctic Chieftain is free of the ice, the New Zealand-flagged fishing vessel Janas is scheduled to escort or tow the vessel to the closest secure harbor. Janas is now roughly 750-miles away from the Antarctic Chieftain’s place, the Coast Guard mentioned Thursday.

The Polar Star is the nation’s solely heavy icebreaker able to working within the thick Antarctic ice.