Vessel Profile – Page 2 – Fishermens News

Polar Star Goes Into Dry Dock After 147-Day Antarctic Deployment

Polar Star, the nation’s only heavy icebreaker, returned from its 147-day mission in support of the U.S Antarctic Program, and went directly into dry dock at Vallejo, California, rather than to its Seattle homeport. Work began on phase two of a five-year, $75-million Service Life Extension Program for the Polar Star in early April. The Coast Guard is replacing antiquated technology to ensure the longevity of the operational heavy icebreaker while in dry dock this year, updates that support the Coast Guard’s enduring commitment to Antarctic operations. The 140-member Polar Star crew departed Seattle on Nov. 13, 2021 for the cutter’s 25th Operation Deep Freeze deployment and traveled 24,300 nautical miles to Antarctica and back. Coast Guard officials said that the cutter made several in...

Coast Guard Cutter Stratton Returns to Alameda After Completing Operation Blue Pacific Patrol

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Stratton returned to Alameda, California in March after a 20,348-mile patrol to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing on the high seas and in partner nations’ exclusive economic zones. The Stratton crew worked with Pacific partner nations during its deployment, including Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the United Kingdom. During the mission, crew from the Stratton boarded 11 vessels and found 21 violations, according the USCG. Commander Steve Adler said that collaboration with partners and utilization of shiprider agreements gave them the ability to accomplish their mission to maintain regional stability and protect the fishing industry. “By bringing aboard shipriders from Fiji, we were able to patrol their exclusive...

Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star at Work in Antarctic Breaking Ice at McMurdo Station

U.S. Coast Guard cutters over the past four months completed two lengthy journeys, one in support of the U.S. Antarctic stations and a second to counter drug operations in the East Pacific Ocean. The first began in November with the departure of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star from its homeport in Seattle; the second began in mid-December at Port Angeles, California, concluding in early February. Crew aboard the Polar Star, on its 25th journey to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, were to spend January and February breaking ice at McMurdo Station for fuel and supply ships, then return to the U.S. west coast in March. Upon return, the 46-year-old Polar Star, the nation’s solar provider of these crucial icebreaking services, was headed to drydock for maintenance and repai...

Vessel Profile: F/V Kiska Sea

The 125-foot crab vessel F/V Kiska Sea has returned to the snow crab grounds along the Russian border after a successful haul out at the Port of Toledo, Oregon. The haul out was the first of its kind for the Kiska Sea at the location. “The Port of Toledo was very accommodating,” vessel Capt. Mike Wilson from the helm via satellite phone. “They were good people.” Wilson has skippered the Kiska Sea since it launched in 1990 and was involved with design of the vessel when it was built, namely the functional elements of the deck layout. He began his fishing career when he was 17 in a Kodiak cannery. “Then I got a deck job and slowly worked my way to the wheelhouse,” he told Fishermen’s News. I’ve been skippering for close to 40 years now.” Owned by Seattle-based Aleutian Spray Fisheries,...

Polar Star Marks Its 25th Operation Deep Freeze Deployment

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, the nation’s only heavy icebreaker, is now engaged in its 25th journey to Antarctica, in support of Operation Deep Freeze, an annual joint military mission to re-supply the U.S. Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation for the nation’s Antarctic Program. Polar Star left its homeport in Seattle on Nov. 13 with a crew of 159 men and women, heading south on its annual trek to Antarctica. Capt. William Woityra, commanding officer of the Polar Star, said that maintaining and operating the 45-year-old ship in the harshest environment on the planet makes for arduous duty, but that the crew are committed to this important mission and “excited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit a part of the world that most will never get...

Coast Guard Icebreaker Healy Crew Undertakes Months Long Research Mission

High latitude research, professional exchanges with foreign navies and patrols and a visible U.S. surface presence in the Arctic are among the mandates for the Coast Guard Cutter Healy on its Arctic deployment and circumnavigation of North America. The crew aboard the 420-foot medium icebreaker, which departed Seattle on July 10, is also conducting other operations as directed throughout its months long journey. “Healy’s deployment provides opportunities to deepen the Coast Guard’s cooperation and commitment with our Arctic allies and partners and to support scientific exploration to increase understanding of the changing Arctic environment and associated impacts,” Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander Vice Adm. Michael McAllister explained. The Healy is scheduled to circumnavigate North...

Coast Guard Cutter Munro Deployed in Support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

The Legend-class U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro and its crew are currently deployed on a months-long mission in support of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, with plans to have exchanges and capacity-building exercises with partners and allies, and also patrol in the area. The cutter’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific theater aligns with the Integrated All-Domain Naval Power of the Naval Service. “An increased presence throughout the Indo-Pacific strengthens our alliances and partnerships through improved interoperability, which will enhance regional stability, promote rules-based order, and improve maritime governance and security in the region and globally,” said Vice Adm. Michael F. McAllister commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area. The cutter’s mandate ranges from search and rescue to...

Coast Guard Cutter Stratton Returns from 100-Day Alaska Deployment

With its mission accomplished after a 105-day deployment to Alaska, as well as biannual shipboard training off the coast of San Diego, the Coast Guard Cutter Stratton returned in early June to its homeport of Alameda, California. During the deployment the crew of the Stratton, along with an MH-65 helicopter aircrew from Air Station Kodiak, patrolled the Bering Sea up to the ice edge of the Arctic, where they conducted two search and rescue missions in the Bering Sea. With support from the ship’s unmanned aircraft system, the crew also safeguarded Alaska’s multi-billion-dollar fishing industry with 15 fisheries law enforcement boardings, to ensure compliance with maritime laws. Their mission also protected the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone by patrolling the maritime boundary line to preven...

Coast Guard Cutter Healy Holds Change of Command Ceremony

Coast Guard Rear Adm. Peter W. Gautier, acting commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Forces West, salutes Capt. Kenneth J. Boda during the Coast Guard Cutter Healy change of command ceremony aboard the cutter moored at Base Seattle, June 25. Boda relieved Capt. Mary Ellen J. Durley as Healy’s commanding officer during the ceremony.