Departing from Seattle, Washington, the Coast Guard Cutter (WAGB 10) Polar Star is on underway for her annual trek to Antarctica..
Operation Deep Freeze is an effort between the USCG and the U.S. military to supply the U.S. Antarctica stations with fuel and supplies. These remote stations support the National Science Foundation, and is the leading U.S. program for research in Antarctica.
Polar Star is responsible for breaking ice up to 21-feet thick to create a channel that supply ships can navigate. The supply vessels destination is McMurdo Station, the largest hub of the U.S. Antarctic Program. This year is the 26th time Polar Star has completed the trek.
