PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Coast Guard
Document Number: 3551
RELEASE DATE: September 10, 2001,  10:58:55 PST

Unaided Ship Reaches Pole

Seattle Times September 7, 2001 SEATTLE

A Seattle-based Coast Guard cutter became the first U.S. surface ship to reach the North Pole unassisted. The cutter Healy is only the second U.S. ship to reach the North Pole. In 1994, the Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Sea and the Canadian vessel Louis S. St. Laurent became the first surface ships from either country to reach the Pole. The St. Laurent edged the Polar Star by 300 yards. This time, the Healy led the way. On a scientific mission exploring the North Pole, the Healy broke open channels in the ice, allowing the accompanying German ship Polarstern to follow. The Polarstern will take seismic surveys of the ocean floor, and the Healy will recover volcanic rocks and draft a topographical map. The Healy left for the North Pole from Norway in July and will return to Seattle in December.

For more information contact:

CDR Jeff Belmondo
USCG
Phone: 206-220-7337
Fax: 206-220-7342
915 Second Avenue, Suite 3408
Seattle, WA 98174-1067
wbelmondo@pacnorwest.uscg.mil