Basic concepts applied to the schedule:
#1: One operational polar icebreaker at all times.
#2: A ship available for Deep Freeze every year.
#3: One month ready-for-sea period prior to deployments.
There are other important precepts,. including scheduling time for training & maintenance,, and designating Deep Freeze and Canadian Arctic resupply backup vessels.
(Note: The Polar Class Icebreaker Operating Schedules for 1995-97 are available from the UNOLS Office.)
Captain Alan Summy, USCG
Chief, Ice Operations Division
Office of Navigation Safety and Waterway Service
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
The tenative FY96 Congressional budget provides 100% of Operating. Maintenance, Acquisition and Construction funds for Polar Icebreakers as requested by the Coast Guard.
Figure of "Average Number of Polar Days Per Year Per Ship"
POLAR SEA: Captain Jeff Garrett relieved Captain Lawson Brigham (retired).
POLAR STAR: Captain Carl Swedberg relieved Captain Bob Parsons (retired)
POLAR SEA: MCAM begins October 1995 and will complete April 1996
POLAR STAR: MCAM completed and tested in western Artic sea trails
U.S. Coast Guard Icebreaker
USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20)
| Length: | 420 ft./ 128 M |
| Beam: | 82 ft./ 25 M |
| Max Draft: | 29.25 ft. |
| Max Displacement: | 16,400 tons |
| Shaft HP: | 40,000 HP Installed/ |
| 4 x 10,000 HP Sulzer Engines | |
| Bowthruster: | 2200 HP/ 1640 KW |
| Propulsion: | Diesel-electric |
| Screws: | 2 FP,4 bl. 16ft/4.8 M |
| Economic Speed: | 12.5 KTS |
| Max Speed: | 17 KTS |
| Endurance: | 65-120 days |
| Range: | 16,000-30,000 NM + |
| Provisioning: | 65-180 days |
| Ice (@ 3 kts): | 4.5 ft.+ (1.4 M) |
| Fuel, Diesel: | 1,028,785 gals. |
| Fantail work space: | 3,000 sq.ft. |
| Elect/computer lab: | 600 sq.ft. |
| Bio/chem lab: | 300 sq.ft. |
| Climate cont, rooms: | 200 sq.ft. |
| Scientific freezer: | 200 sq.ft. |
| Indoor Staging area: | 300 sq.ft. |
| Vans: | (8) 20' CONEX |
| C/T winch (1): | 15,000 M 9/16" |
| 10,000 M 0.680" EM | |
| Oceano winch(s): | 10,000 M 1/4" wire |
| 10,000 M 322" EM | |
| Science Comms. Network | |
| Science data Network | |
| Main lab: | 2000+ sq.ft. |
| Wet lab: | 400 sq.ft. |
Reconfigured science suite (as requested in the October 1993 meeting in New Orleans) was adjudicated and accepted (in principal) by the shipyard.
A Sea Beam Multi-Beam system was added.
Main Propulsion Control & Monitoring System (MPCMS) awarded to CEGELEC.
Science Data Network (SDN) awarded to EDI.
Integrated Bridge System (MPCMS, SDN, Dynamic Positioning System) awarded to Sperry.
Visits to the science community (USGS, U of Wash., CRREL, WHOI) are ongoing, until a standing advisory . group can be formed.
| Mar. 1996: | Start (modular) assembly. |
| Sep. 1996: | Ceremonial Keel Laying. |
| Summer 1997: | Initial crew training begins. |
| July 1997: | Ship Launching. |
| Jan. 1998: | Builder's dock trials. |
| Feb. 1998: | Builder's sea trials. |
| Feb. 1998: | Inclining tests. |
| Apr. 1998: | Acceptance trials. |
| June 1998: | Ship delivery. |
