page_title: USCGC Healy (WAGB-20)
section_title: Notable Operations
hierarchical_section_title: USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) / Notable Operations
caption_attribution_description: English: BERING SEA - The Coast Guard Cutter Healy approaches the Russian-flagged tanker Renda while breaking ice around the vessel 97 miles south of Nome, Alaska, Jan. 10, 2012. The two vessels departed Dutch Harbor for Nome on Jan. 3, 2012.
context_page_description: USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) is the United States' largest and most technologically advanced icebreaker as well as the US Coast Guard's largest vessel. She is classified as a medium icebreaker by the U.S. Coast Guard. She is homeported in Seattle, Washington and was commissioned in 1999. On September 5, 2015, USCGC Healy became the first unaccompanied United States surface vessel to reach the North Pole.
context_section_description: October 29, 2015: USCGC Healy received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation award for exceptionally meritorious service from 24 June to 29 October 2015 during their Arctic West Summer 2015 deployment. Healy traveled over 16,000 miles, took over 25,000 water and ice samples from 72 science stations, and became the first unaccompanied U.S. surface vessel to reach the North Pole.  She also engaged with the crew of the German icebreaker Polarstern while at the North Pole in support of the international scientific mission Geotraces.  Finally, Healy became the first vessel to broadcast a live feed from ice-bound Arctic waters, streaming video of a search and rescue exercise to shore-based coordinators.
  April 10, 2012: USCGC Healy received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation award for exceptionally meritorious service from 3 January to 5 February 2012 after she escorted a tanker carrying a critical load of fuel through tremendously difficult winter ice conditions to Nome, AK.  In November 2011, a strong winter storm struck western Alaska, which prevented a vital fuel delivery to Nome.  Healy delayed her return home from a six-month Arctic deployment in order to escort the Russian-flagged tanker MT Renda to Nome, AK. Healy escorted the MT Renda through over 300 miles of extremely difficult ice conditions and broke out the beset ship time after time.  After many days of great exertion, MT Renda transferred the fuel to Nome over the course of three days.  On 20 January, Healy began the break out for herself and the MT Renda.  They emerged from the ice on 29 January 2012 after successful completion of the mission. This was the first-ever winter fuel delivery from the water in Western Alaska.
  January 20, 2010: USCGC Healy received the Coast Guard Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation award for meritorious service from 6 August to 16 September 2009 while conducting the Joint U.S.—Canada United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Extended Continental Shelf Mapping Expedition.  In collaboration with CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, Healy pushed 150 nautical miles further north than planned and avoided $2.4 million in future expedition mapping costs. Healy also acquired over 1,000 pounds of valuable geological samples by conducting dredging operations at depths of up to 3 miles. The rare samples were essential in establishing the origin of the targeted extended continental shelf.
  July 16, 2008: USCGC Healy received the Coast Guard Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation award for meritorious service from April 2007 to July 2008 while conducting science operations in support of national scientific, economic, and political interests.  Healy conducted a multi-year project in order to evaluate the entire ecosystem of the Bering Sea.  Data collected during these missions helped improve the understanding of food webs and biological communities in the Arctic.  Through superior mission execution in adverse weather, Healy exceeded expectations significantly.
  May 7, 2003: USCGC Healy received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation award for exceptionally meritorious service from January 2003 to April 2003 while conducting Operation Deep Freeze in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program.  With less than three weeks' notice, Healy was deployed to Antarctica in support of the critical annual re-supply of McMurdo Station. Healy played an instrumental role in coordination with USCGC Polar Sea in resupplying the ice station.  Healy successfully escorted the freighter American Tern and the tanker Richard G. Matthieson.  Healy successfully escorted both ships in and out of the ice, and facilitated the delivery of resources to McMurdo Station
  January 23, 2002: USCGC Healy received the Coast Guard Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation award for meritorious service from 12 June 2001 to 21 December 2001 during the Arctic East 2001 Science Mission.  Healy mapped 1,100 miles of the Gakkel Ridge, previously the only unmapped undersea ridge in the world.  Twelve previously unknown volcanoes and numerous undersea hydrothermal vents were discovered. Eight tons of rock
caption: Healy escorts Renda through ice in the Bering Sea in January 2012.
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