USCGC Polar Sea ( WAGB - 11 ) USCGC " Polar Sea " ( WAGB - 11 ) is a United States Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker . Commissioned in 1977 , the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship , " Polar Star " ( WAGB - 10 ) . Homeported in Seattle , Washington , " Polar Sea " and " Polar Star " operate under the control of Pacific Area and coordinate their operations through the Ice Operations Section of the United States Coast Guard . The Coast Guard plans to decommission the ship by September 2011 . " Polar Sea " has been out of service since 2010 due to engine failure . It was slated for demolition in 2012 , but the scrapping of the 35 - year - old icebreaker was postponed by at least six months in June . Machinery . " Polar Sea " uses four different methods of electronic navigation to overcome the difficulties of high - latitude operations , and a computerized propulsion control system to effectively manage six diesel - powered propulsion generators , three diesel - powered ship ' s service generators , three propulsion gas turbines , and other equipment vital to the operation of the ship . The extensive use of automation and low maintenance materials have greatly reduced staffing requirements . " Polar Sea ' s " three shafts are each turned by either a two diesel - electric or one gas turbine power plants . Each shaft is connected to a 16 - foot ( 4 . 9 - m ) diameter , four - bladed , controllable - pitch propeller . For all three shafts , the diesel - electric plants can produce a total of 18 , 000 shaft horsepower ( 13 , 425 kilowatts ) and the gas turbine plants a total of 75 , 000 demand shaft horsepower ( 56 MW ) or 60 , 000 continuous horsepower ( 44 . 8 MW ) . Hull design and strength . " Polar Sea " has sufficient hull strength to absorb the high - powered ice ramming common to her operations . The shell plating and associated internal support structure are fabricated from steel with superior low - temperature strength . The portion of the hull designed to ram ice is 1¾ inches thick ( 44 mm ) in the bow and stern sections , and 1¼ inches thick ( 32 mm ) amidships . The hull strength is produced almost entirely from a sophisticate internal support structure that features canted ribs for approximately the forward two - thirds of the ship ' s frame . " Polar Sea ' s " hull shape is designed to maximize icebreaking by efficiently combining the forces of the ship ' s forward motion , the downward pull of gravity on the bow , and the upward push of the inherent buoyancy of the stern . The curved bow and heavy weight allows " Polar Sea " to force ice edges to break off downward as cusps . Contrary to some myths , this design does not use sharp edges or hammer - like blows to cut or break the ice , as the round bow and massive weight are sufficient . With high power to back it up , the 13 , 000 - ton ( 13 , 200 - metric ton ) " Polar Sea " is able to continuously progress through 6 feet ( 1 . 8 m ) of new hard ice at 3 knots ( 6 km / h ) and break up to 21 feet when using back - and - ram methods . Crew . Operations in the remote , hazardous and unforgiving polar regions make it necessary for the crew of " Polar Sea " to be highly self - sufficient . The crew consists of personnel trained in navigation , engineering , welding , machinery repair , electronics , boat handling , firefighting , damage control , diving , medicine , and nearly every other kind of special skill that could possibly be needed . Duty on an icebreaker is long and strenuous , especially when it involves being away from homeport for up to eight months out of the year . There is a crew of 24 officers , 20 chief petty officer s and 102 enlisted . The ship has four sizable lounges , a library ( recently converted ) , a gymnasium ( in an engineering space ) , and a small ship ' s store . It also has its own U . S . Post Office , satellite pay telephones , amateur radio equipment , photo lab , and movie library . Missions . " Polar Sea " has a variety of missions while operating in polar regions . During Antarctic deployments , the primary missions include breaking a channel through the sea ice to resupply the McMurdo Research Station in the Ross Sea . Resupply ships use the channel to bring food , fuel , and other goods to make it through another winter . In addition to these duties , " Polar Sea " also serves as a scientific research platform with five laboratories , additional space for seven portable laboratories on deck and accommodations for up to 35 scientists . The " J " - shaped cranes and work areas near the stern and port side of ship give scientists the capability to do at - sea studies in the fields of geology , vulcanology , oceanography , sea - ice physics and other disciplines . Aircraft carried . " Polar Sea " carries two HH - 65 Dolphin helicopter s during major deployments . They support scientific parties , do ice reconnaissance , cargo transfer , and search and rescue as required . The Aviation Detachment comes from the Polar Operations Division at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center , Mobile , Alabama . Notable operations . In nautical history , " Polar Sea " holds several notable records . It is one of only three ships that has ever completely transited the Arctic Ocean and circumnavigated North America . On 22 August 1994 , " Polar Sea " was one of the first two North American surface vessels to reach the North Pole ; it sailed together with the . 1985 controversy . In 1985 , the " Polar Sea " triggered a diplomatic event by navigating the Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska without formal authorization from the Canadian government . It was the United States ’ position that the Northwest Passage was an international strait open to shipping and it sought only to notify Canada rather than ask for permission . Publication of the plans enraged the Canadian public opinion as it was regarded as a breach and disregard of sovereignty and prompted the government to take preventive measures in defending Canada ’ s arctic territories . The U . S . never recognized Canada ’ s claim over the Northwest passage but nevertheless , the two countries reached an agreement two years later which stipulated that in the future , the U . S . would ask permission before navigating the disputed waters . Refit plans . On March 25 , 2008 the " Navy Times " described options for the refit or replacement of the older Polar - class vessels . The four options laid out were : On June 16 , 2008 the US Coast Guard announced that the Polar Sea would undergo a $ 6 . 3 million refit in the Todd Shipyards in Seattle . The refit was expected to be completed by September 2008 . On May 21 , 2009 , Todd Shipyards announced it had been awarded an additional $ 5 , 515 , 503 for its maintenance of the " Polar Sea " . On February 15 , 2011 , the Coast Guard via ALCOAST 059 / 11 announced that the Polar Sea would be decommissioned by September 2011 ; the ship is currently in dry dock in Seattle .