laststandonzombieisland

Click to big up. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class George Degener)

The Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) enters an ice field near the Balleny Islands Jan. 5, 2015, while en route to Antarctica in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program, which is managed by the National Science Foundation.

The Polar Star, the second/third largest coast guard cutter in service, just began a four-month mission to Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze 2014 to 2015, the Polar Star sails as part of part of Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, alongside U.S. Air Force and Navy personnel, in support of USAP.

Brrrr.

The 38-year old Polar Star, a huge 13,800-ton beast, is, with her sister, the most powerful seagoing icebreaker ever built for the U.S. sea services with her half dozen Alco 16V-251F diesel engines and trio of Pratt & Whitney FT-4A12 gas turbines giving her over 93,000 shp to her three shafts, making her capable of breaking ice 21-feet thick.

She spent 2006-2012 laid up at her slip in Seattle and during that time was simply referred to as “Building 10” since she never moved.

Its good to see the old girl back in the ice.