USCGC Healy ( WAGB - 20 ) USCGC " Healy " ( WAGB - 20 ) is a United States Coast Guard research icebreaker commissioned in 1999 . Within the Coast Guard , she is classified as a medium icebreaker . Construction . " Healy " was constructed by Avondale Industries in New Orleans , Louisiana and named in honor of United States Revenue Cutter Service Captain Michael A . Healy . Her keel was laid on 16 September 1996 . A spectacular launch followed on 15 November 1997 , where 20 people were injured when a larger than expected wave of muddy water and debris created by the vessel ' s launch hit a viewing stand . Delivered to the US Coast Guard and placed " In Commission , Special " on 10 November 1999 , " Healy " joined the icebreakers and in their homeport of Seattle , Washington . The ship departed New Orleans on 26 January 2000 , performing sea trials off of San Juan , Puerto Rico and in Baffin Bay between Canada and Greenland . She arrived in Seattle on 9 August 2000 after transiting the famed Northwest Passage and was placed " In Commission , Active " on 21 August 2000 . Capabilities . Designed to conduct a wide range of research activities , " Healy " provides more than of scientific laboratory space , numerous electronic sensor systems , oceanographic winches , and accommodations for up to 50 scientists . " Healy " is also designed to break of ice continuously at and can operate in temperatures as low as . The science community provided input on lab layouts and science capabilities during design and construction of the ship . As a coast guard cutter , " Healy " is also a platform for supporting other potential missions in the polar regions , including logistics , search and rescue , ship escort , environmental protection , and enforcement of laws and treaties . Operations . In 2011 , the ship was in the middle of a seven - month science cruise in the Arctic Ocean conducting scientific operations . Due to the other US icebreakers being either in repair ( " Polar Star " ) or in the process of being decommissioned ( " Polar Sea " ) , " Healy " is the only active large icebreaker in the Coast Guard ' s fleet . The Commanding Officer ( CO ) is Captain John Reeves . Captain Reeves assumed command of HEALY in May , 2013 . In January 2012 , " Healy " escorted the Russian - flagged freighter " Renda " through the sea ice flows to deliver an emergency supply of fuel to Nome , Alaska . Such a winter delivery had never been attempted before because the ice floes are 1 to 5 feet thick during the winter season . A group of researchers from the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory tested their " Submarine Team Behaviors Tool " with the " Healy " crew in September 2013 as they evaluated technology for the recovery of " simulated oil trapped in or under ice at the polar ice edge " . Diving deaths . On 17 August 2006 , LT Jessica Hill and PO2 Stephen Duque died of unspecified causes during diving operations in the Arctic Ocean . The circumstances of the accident are under investigation by the US Coast Guard . The coast guard has conducted simultaneous safety and administrative investigations the results of which were made public in January 2007 along with a Final Decision Letter dated 23 August 2007 . Initial press reports indicated that the divers were conducting an inspection of the rudder , a routine operation , at the time of the accident ; but later reports state that the two were doing a cold - water training dive near the bow of the ship . The dive was reported to have been planned for a maximum depth of . Lieutenant Hill ' s father , citing autopsy reports , has indicated that his daughter actually reached a depth of near in what he described as an out of control descent . The divers were tended by unqualified and poorly - instructed personnel on the surface , none of whom were familiar with cold water diving or scuba diving in general . It is not clear why they extended so much line to the divers . By the time the two could be pulled to the surface , gas reserves were emptied and neither diver could be revived . On 30 August commanding officer Captain Douglas G . Russell was temporarily relieved of command by Vice Admiral Charles Wuster citing a " loss of confidence " in Russell ' s ability to command . The relief was later made permanent by Admiral Thad Allen , Coast Guard Commandant . Russell was initially replaced by Captain Daniel K . Oliver , the previous " HEALY " commanding officer who Russell had relieved only two months earlier . Oliver returned to his regular staff job a short time later , when Captain Ted Lindstrom was named the new commanding officer . Lindstom has commanded four previous coast guard cutters , and was chief of response for the coast guard ' s 13th District in Seattle , Washington prior to returning to sea .