U.S Coast Guard's Only Heavy-Class Icebreaker Undergoes Last Stage of Life Extension Program

The U.S. Coast Guard has started the last stage of the life extension program for its only operational heavy-class icebreaker, the USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10).

The ship is at Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, California, where it will undergo an overhaul to increase its life till the next-generation cutter replacements arrive in the 2030s.

The work would involve a refurbishment of the ship’s air conditioning and ventilation systems, heating and cooling, upgradation of navigation equipment and a replacement of its main propulsion and auxiliary systems.

It would also focus on enhancing the icebreaker’s safety and navigation abilities in long deployments.

The coming summer, a team from Baltimore would visit to perform additional repairs to its sewage pumps and tank level indicators.

The USCGC Polar Star is 122 m long and 26 m wide. It has 6 diesel engines, each with 3000 horsepower, and 3 gas turbines, each producing 25,000 horsepower.

The ship can accommodate over 120 personnel and can support salvage operations and icebreaking, including research missions.

It can break through 6 m thick ice easily and reach speeds of up to 18 knots in open waters and around 3 knots through ice. Its operational range is 16,000 nm.

References: United States Coast Guard

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