The USCGC Polar Star is on its way to attempt to break free two ice-bound ship off Antarctica. So far, three icebreakers have attempted to free the the MV Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stuck in Antarctic ice south of Tasmania since Christmas Eve. The Chinese ice breaker, Xue Long or Snow Dragon, has now become stuck in the ice as well, after successfully evacuating the passengers from the cruise ship by helicopter to the Australian icebreaker, Aurora Australis. The Polar Star sailed from Sydney on Saturday and is expected to arrive at the stricken ships, which are roughly 1,500 miles south of Hobart, around January 12th.
Will the Polar Star succeed where the other icebreakers failed? If she succeeds, it will come down to one word – horsepower. The Polar Star is a smaller ship than the Snow Dragon. The Snow Dragon is 50% longer and has roughly twice the displacement. Both have diesel engines which provide around 18,000 HP. The Polar Star however, also has three gas turbines, which can deliver up to 75,000 HP through three controllable pitch propellers. So, while the Polar Star may be smaller and lighter than the Snow Dragon, it has about four times the horsepower. The Polar Star is capable of breaking six feet of ice at at sustained speed of three knots, while the Snow Dragon is capable of a breaking just under four feet of ice at a speed of around 1.5 knots.
The Polar Star, built in 1976, recently completed an approximately $60 million overhaul and refurbishment.
I was the chief engineer that put Polar Star into commission in 1976 and took her to for the initial deployments to both the Arctic and the Antarctic. I am confident that she will be able to get the other vessels free if she is operated properly.
The Polar Star is indeed an impressive ship. With her gas turbines, I believe she is one of the most powerful icebreakers in service, if not the most powerful. (I lose track of which Russian ships are in and out of service.)
Thanks for your comment.
I served on the Bouy tender Bramble which participated in the circumnavigation of the north american continent. If I recall they had to use dynamite on that voyage on some of the most difficult ice. Does anyone have any info on todays tactics or are they still the same? What does the HP have to do with the capability of the Polar star?
The Polar Star is classed as a heavy icebreaker that can move through 21 feet of ice by backing and ramming, which is where the horsepower coupled with the icebreaking bow comes into play.