SEATTLE — A U.S. Coast Guard crew returned to their Seattle homeport Saturday following a 22,000-mile, 133-day deployment circumnavigating North America.
The crew aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, a 420-ft medium icebreaker, provided U.S. surface presence in the Arctic, participated in an international search-and-rescue exercise, and engaged in passing exercises with surface vessels from the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican navies.
Healy’s crew also hosted members of the international scientific community who conducted oceanographic research throughout the Arctic to monitor environmental change.
“Healy’s crew demonstrated their tremendous dedication to duty while carrying out the Coast Guard’s Arctic mission, operating in some of the harshest regions in the world,” said Coast Guard Cutter Healy’s Commanding Officer Capt. Kenneth Boda. “They assisted teams of scientists in gathering invaluable data and information throughout the deployment. This research will be shared with laboratories, universities and institutions around the world to support research focused on the changing Arctic environment.”
Commissioned in 2000, Healy is one of two active polar icebreakers in the Coast Guard’s fleet capable of breaking 4 feet of ice continuously and up to 8 feet of ice while backing and ramming.
Healy deploys annually to the Arctic in support of oceanographic research and Operation Arctic Shield, an annual operation to execute U.S. Coast Guard missions, focusing on promoting national interests and security throughout the Arctic.