02/17/2015: The Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star is on scene with the Antarctic Chieftain and the cutter begins breaking up the ice around the fishing vessel.
The Polar Star, the United States’ only operational heavy icebreaker, transits an ice field in the Southern Ocean en route to the Antarctic Chieftain, a disabled fishing vessel near Antarctica, Feb. 13, 2015.
Polar Star’s crew is participating in a multinational rescue operation for the Antarctic Chieftain’s crew.
Polar Star’s crew has been underway in Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2015, part of the U.S. Antarctic Program, managed by the National Science Foundation.
The disabled fishing vessel Antarctic Chieftain is towed astern of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star through sea ice near Antarctica, Feb. 14, 2015. Polar Star’s crew will tow Antarctic Chieftain to the safety of open water.
Credit: U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area:2/14/15