by Dr. Michael Wenger | Aug 19, 2024 | Archive, Arctic, Arctic, Everyday life, Politics, Society
The US icebreaker “Healy” was commissioned in 2000 and was the only operational icebreaking vessel until a few weeks ago. A fire in the engine room ended the current Arctic missions and forced the vessel back to its home port in Seattle. (Photo: NASA, Kathrin Hansen)...
by Kevin McGwin | May 17, 2022 | Antarctic, Antarctica, Antarctica, Archive, Arctic, Arctic, Politics
Polar Sea, food (Photo: Kevin McGwin) Ever since America’s coastguard accepted that its icebreaker fleet is on its last legs, its focus has been on repairing the one that it has while it awaits delivery of the first of its replacements. The other option, putting one...
by Kevin McGwin | May 6, 2022 | Antarctic, Archive, Arctic, Arctic, Politics
No heavy armament, just heavily reinforced (Photo: Halter Marine) By any other name, the main job of America’s Polar Security Cutters will be the same as that of the classes of icebreakers that came before them: breaking ice. In official parlance, the function...