Photos: Seattle icebreaker Polar Star returns home from Arctic
Feb 21, 2021, 1:24 PM | Updated: 1:55 pm
The Seattle-based icebreaker Polar Star has returned home from a mission to explore the Arctic during the winter months. Check out some of the photos from their mission.
The crew spent almost 80 days at sea with no regular port calls, good connectivity, or sun. They also had to endure 20-foot swells in the Bering Sea and spend the holidays away from their families.
They arrived back to Seattle on Saturday. Also homeported in Seattle is the Coast Guard Cutter Healy, which operates solely in the Arctic summer months.
鈥淢ost of the crew who keep this ship operating were born more than a decade after Polar Star鈥檚 first voyage,鈥� Captain Bill Woityra, the cutter鈥檚 commanding officer, said while underway to the Arctic. 鈥淭his deployment will propel our future Arctic abilities by providing junior members critical familiarity in the harsh, remote winter Arctic environment.鈥�
The Polar Star marked its 45th year in service during the voyage.
Roller coasters have nothing on us. 馃帰馃寠
Take a ride aboard Cutter Polar Star through 20 to 30-foot waves in the Bering Sea.
— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG)
