Ice Breaking in Antartica

[Tinman]

Why would any country want to pay to have their own heavy icebreaker which is seldom needed, if the US will come to the rescue for free? We spent a lot of money for nothing sending the Polar Star South with no compensation for expenses.

 

[Avenger]

Very cool pictures. Thanks.

 

[Vincentc]

All,

Sorry for posting a response two months after the thread started, but my feeble excuse is I was just now able to to log onto this forum, as I'm on my way back to the United States from Antarctica aboard, you guessed it, POLAR STAR.

As you may know by now, the rescue of the Russian ship (and the Chinese) did not actually occur, as the winds shifted easing the pressure of the ice around both ships. That said, at the request of both the Russian and Chinese government we were indeed enroute to their aid (and registered up to 55 degree rolls crossing the southern ocean). If the rescue had indeed been needed, yes, the U.S. would have asked for some cost reimbursement from both.

Of the three icebreakers, POLAR STAR, POLAR SEA, and HEALY, both the POLAR STAR and HEALY are currently operational, POLAR SEA has been laid up due to budget restrictions.

On a side note, if I need to conduct heavy icebreaking on all three Main Gas Turbines, I can burn between 60,000 - 70,000 gallons of diesel a day. On one of my favorite days (not this year), we burned 70,000 gallons to go almost 3 miles...but that was through ice 20 - 24 feet thick.

Thanks,

George Pellissier

George,
Thanks for the first hand information and pictures. Very interesting.

60,000 gal per day. Is that regular diesel or USN biodiesel?
$200,000 per day or $1.5 million per day.

"Increased Expenses. Biofuels are disproportionately more expensive than conventional fuels. A gallon of biofuel costs $26, whereas the Department of Defense purchases diesel at about $3.60 per gallon. "
Heritage Foundation

As I understand it, our Sino/soviet friends asked for help, we mobilized and deployed asset at risk to life and property, plus significant expense with the belief that if we rescued the ship we would be repaid some of or expense.

Is this a great country, or what?

 

[sandspur1966]

Welcome home Capt., sounds like a long, eventful and successful cruise.

http://gcaptain.com/u-s-polar-icebr...ed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Gcaptain+(gCaptain.com)

 

[gpellissier]

Thanks Shawn. Interesting trip indeed, as they gave me a new propulsion control system which I've taken to calling "Hal".