Scene on the Sound: The Polar Star departs for Antarctica

Coast Guard cutter Polar Star heading for Antarctica
Photo by Jan Hansen

Sailing past Shoreline on November 13, 2021 the Coast Guard cutter Polar Star, the only heavy icebreaker in America’s fleet, departed for Antarctica for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

In an annual journey, the 46-year old Polar Star is heading to McMurdo Station on Ross Island in Antarctica to deliver a year’s supply of cargo and fuel to the U.S. scientists stationed in the area.

Commissioned in 1976, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington along with sister ship, USCGC Polar Sea.

updated 11-14-2021