antarctic

Shown is the edge of the ice shelf in the southernmost navigable water from the crows nest of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star on Feb. 17, 2022.

Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star sets new world record, reaches southernmost navigable waters on the planet

Hope McKenney

The nation's only heavy icebreaker reached the southernmost navigable waters on the planet last month, setting a new world record. The nearly 400-foot U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker reached a position of 78 degrees, 44 minutes, 1.32 seconds south latitude off the coast of Antarctica. That’s about 500 yards from the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, beating out the current Guinness World Record holder for the southernmost point reached by a ship, according to a USCG statement.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star sits on a cloudy day in Antarctica, Jan. 17, 2022. Polar Star is in its 25th year participating in Operation Deep Freeze, one of many operations in the Indo-Pacific region in which the U.S. military promotes security and stability across the region.

Science & Environment

Nation’s sole heavy icebreaker returns to Antarctica to resupply American scientists doing research near the South Pole

Hope McKenney

The nation's sole heavy icebreaker arrived in Antarctica on Monday, following a nearly three-month trip from Seattle. The deployment marks the Polar Star’s 25th journey to the earth’s southernmost continent, supporting Operation Deep Freeze – an annual mission to resupply American scientists doing research near the South Pole, according to a Coast Guard statement.

Science & Environment

Nation's Sole Heavy Icebreaker Arrives In Unalaska, Prepares To Patrol Arctic Waters

Hope McKenney

The nation's sole heavy icebreaker arrived in the Aleutians this week for the first time since 2013.The U.S. Coast Guard's Polar Star is preparing to…