Did you know that the Coast Guard’s existing icebreaker fleet technically consists of only three ships?They are the USCGC Polar Star, USCGC Polar Sea, and USCGC Healy.
Unfortunately, the Healy is a medium icebreaker with a more limited capability to move through ice-filled waters than the two heavy Polar-class ships, while the Polar Sea is in a permanently inactive state, serving as a source of spare parts for its sister ship.
Meanwhile, despite undergoing an extensive refit between 2010 and 2012, the 1970s-era Polar Star is prone to breakdowns and other problems.
The congressional watchdog wonders whether the service has done enough to mitigate possible delays and additional costs, because losing these specialized ships for an extended period of time could hamper the United State’s ability to operate in the increasingly contested and immensely strategic Arctic region.
Thanks to David Villeneuve for this link
The post Congressional Watchdog Questions Coast Guard Plans To Field Critical New Icebreakers appeared first on Ice Age Now.
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September 7, 2018 at 08:36PM
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