One-of-a-Kind Coast Guard Icebreaker Visits Juneau on Way Home

[rangerrebew]

One-of-a-Kind Coast Guard Icebreaker Visits Juneau on Way Home

3 Nov 2019
The Associated Press | By Michael S. Lockett

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The USCGC Healy visited Juneau, mooring downtown Oct. 27 on its way home to its homeport in Seattle.

The Coast Guard's only medium icebreaker, the Healy has been conducting scientific research in the Arctic with researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the University of Washington, said Ensign Trevor Layman, the Healy's public affairs officer.
‘Midway’ Get Tickets Now The courage of a few changed the fate of the world. ‘Midway’ arrives this Friday

"We're a completely unique United States Coast Guard vessel," Layman said. Healy is the only one of its class, a modern medium icebreaker built from the hull out to support science missions in the Arctic Ocean.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/11/03/1-kind-coast-guard-icebreaker-visits-juneau-way-home.html

[jpsb]

Hard to believe the USA only has two ice breakers and one of them is at the end of it's service life.

[thackney]

Hard to believe the USA only has two ice breakers and one of them is at the end of it's service life.

New ones a few years out.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/27647/behold-americas-new-and-desperately-needed-heavy-icebreaker

[PeteS in CA]

Hard to believe the USA only has two ice breakers and one of them is at the end of it's service life.

From what I've heard the Coasties get USN leftovers and cast-offs. Not good.

But why do the Coasties need an ice breaker? Hasn't Arctic sea ice been gone since 2016? 

[Elderberry]

Coast Guard cutter Healy crew members and scientists pose for a group photo at the breaker's
 first ice station while deployed to the Arctic Ocean on Sept. 18. The crew and scientists
deployed numerous scientific sensors during the ice station to collect data for Arctic research.
(Ensign Trevor Layman/Coast Guard)

Navy Times:

Healy accommodates 50 scientists on board as they carry out a number of scientific missions in the Arctic, including biological, meteorological and oceanographic research, Layman said.

"Our bread and butter is monitoring how the ice is melting," Layman said. "Healy has a bunch of science sensors that have multiplied over time."

Healy can support other missions, including flight operations, search and rescue, and even vessel interdiction, although without a combat information center, Layman said, it’s most effective as a scientific research vessel.

[Elderberry]

From what I've heard the Coasties get USN leftovers and cast-offs. Not good.

You need to check out your ears or change who you're listening to.

Neither the Polar Star nor the Healy were USN cast-offs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Polar_Star_(WAGB-10)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Healy_(WAGB-20)

[Cyber Liberty]

A "Cutter" is a highly specialized craft, and I can't imagine there are any equivalent in the US Navy.

[Elderberry]

A "Cutter" is a highly specialized craft, and I can't imagine there are any equivalent in the US Navy.

I went thru the Wiki List of Coast Guard Cutters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Coast_Guard_cutters

And only found these. Two that were former USN and five on loan from the USN.

179' Patrol Coastal (WPC)

Cyclone class Coastal Patrol Ships on loan from the United States Navy

•   USCGC Tempest (WPC-2)
•   USCGC Monsoon (WPC-4)
•   USCGC Zephyr (WPC-8)
•   USCGC Shamal (WPC-13)
•   USCGC Tornado (WPC-14)

187' - Auxiliary Tug (WAT)

•   USCGC Redwing WAT-48 Former USN Lapwing Class Minesweeper

306' Edsall Class (WDE)

USCGC Finch (WDE-428), a former US Navy Edsall class destroyer escort

[Cyber Liberty]

@Elderberry  Kool!