Polar Class Icebreaker Oceanographic Mission Upgrade

• Published in: Naval Engineers Journal
• Main Authors: YOU, MARK TIL, THAYER, NEAL, ZIMMERMANN, RICHARD P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1991
• Subjects: Antarctic; Arctic; Antarc*; Icebreaker
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1991.tb00952.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1559-3584.1991.tb00952.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1991.tb00952.x

ABSTRACT In supporting U.S. polar programs, U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers have two missions: logistics support (break‐in and ship escort), and research support (providing research platforms for the U.S. polar research community). The retirement in recent years of CGC Glacier and the last two Wind class icebreakers has left the Coast Guard with just two Polar class icebreakers to conduct missions in the Arctic and Antarctic. It has become clear in recent years that the research community needed enhanced scientific facilities available on board the two remaining Coast Guard icebreakers. Historically, the Coast Guard has provided scientific support to embarked scientific parties on board its icebreakers, carrying researchers in a wide variety of fields into the ice of both polar regions. After conducting a survey of the polar research community and holding a series of meetings with users of the vessels to ascertain the needs of the user community, the Coast Guard has undertaken an effort to upgrade the research support capability of the two existing Polar class vessels. Improved research support capabilities were designed with ongoing consultation with the polar research community. The upgrade of facilities on the two vessels was divided into two phases: Phase I, an upgrade of geological facilities and Phase II, an upgrade of the general oceanographic facilities. This paper focuses on the design work for the Phase II upgrades on CGC Polar Sea , consisting of construction of oceanographic and geological lab spaces, construction of a new oceanographic winch room, the addition of over‐the‐side weight handling equipment, the addition of topside support services for scientific vans, and the acquisition of new science winches.