The Icebreakers

Fire + Ice: Exploring for Volcanoes Beneath the Arctic
The Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge Expedition
July 31 - October 3, 2001

On July 31, 2001 two icebreakers, the US Coast Guard vessel Healy and the German research vessel Polarstern depart from Tromsø, Norway, traveling into the Arctic ice-cap to their ultimate destination of Gakkel Ridge, at approximately 87°N latitude.

The USCGC Healy had its launch on November 15, 1997, and in 1999 it joined the icebreakers Polar Star and Polar Sea in their homeport of Seattle, Washington. The Healy provides more than 4,200 square feet of lab space, with electronic sensor systems, oceanographic winches, and accommodations for up to 50 scientists. On the trip to the Gakkel Ridge, a team of scientists, graduate students, and teachers should make for an impressive range of activities.

The Healy is built to break 4_ feet of ice continuously at 3 knots, and it can operate in temperatures as low as -50° F. As a Coast Guard cutter, the Healy is ready for more missions to polar regions, including logistics, search and rescue, ship escort, environmental protection, and the enforcement of international laws and treaties.

The Healy is traveling with a second icebreaker, the Polar Stern.