US Coast Guard to Free Aussie Fishing Vessel from Antarctic Ice

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter has been diverted from its path to rescue a 207-foot fishing vessel stuck in Antarctic ice, the US Coast Guard announced in a press release today.

Antarctic Chieftain, an Australian-flagged fishing vessel with 27 passengers, contacted Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand after becoming beset in ice 900 miles Northeast of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica on Tuesday. The vessel suffered damage to three of its four propeller blades when it became stuck in the ice and lost its ability to maneuver.

RCC New Zealand diverted U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, homeported in Seattle, to respond to the Antarctic Chieftain’s position. The 150-person crew of Polar Star was deployed to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, as part of Operation Deep Freeze, which provides military logistical support to the U.S. Antarctic Program managed by the National Science Foundation.

The crew of Polar Star is scheduled to reach the Antarctic Chieftain Thursday at approximately 10 p.m.

The crew had just completed their mission at McMurdo Station when they were diverted to aid the vessel in distress. Polar Star will steam more than 330 miles to reach the vessel, and will have to break through several miles of nine-foot thick ice, endure 35 mph winds and navigate through heavy snowfall.

 “The seas of Antarctica are treacherous and unforgiving,” said U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles W. Ray, the commander of Pacific Area. “This incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of the U.S. icebreaker fleet as we see increased human activity in the Polar Regions.”

Polar Star’s crew will free the Antarctic Chieftain from the ice, and the New Zealand-flagged fishing vessel Janas is scheduled to escort or tow the vessel to the nearest safe harbor once it’s freed. Janas is approximately 600-miles away from the Antarctic Chieftain’s position.