The captain and officers who served on U.S. Navy Icebreaker U.S.S. Glacier, recently gathered for a reunion and to strategize for Glacier's restoration. Reunion participants included members from a crew of 300 servicemen and scientists, who, in 1961, successfully explored the most dangerous Antarctic region for a ship to enter: the Bellinghausen Sea and Thurston Island. Glacier's discoveries resutled in revisions to the world atlas.
Glacier was transferred to the USCG in 1967 and operateed as USCGC Glacier until her decommissioning in 1986. USCG crewmembers are in the forefront of the restoriation of Glacier, currently moored near San Francisco.
The
Glacier Society was formed by crewmembers to restore Glacier so it may operate:
As a museum ship and tourist attraction heralding its 32-year career in Polar exploration;
As a learning platform for students in grades K-12;
As a University At Sea for undergraduate, post-graduate and adult learning programs; and
To conduct seagoing voyages for the U.S. Navy, USCG, Veterans groups and the general public.
The Glacier Society has identified Bridgeport Harbor as an ideal setting for the ship. The ship is scheduled for her voyage from San Francisco to Connecticut sometime in the year 2000.