The U.S. Coast Guard-operated icebreaker USCGC Healy set sail from Seattle for the Arctic to begin a new deployment focused on oceanographic research and environmental monitoring in polar regions. environmental monitoring in polar regions.. The vessel, the nation’s largest dedicated to ice operations, will perform critical functions for several months in northern latitudes.
USCGC Healy collaborating with ONR and NSF in the Arctic
On this occasion, the Healy will participate in two key projects. On the one hand, it will collaborate with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) by deploying autonomous Arctic Mobile Observing System (AMOS) technologies, an initiative that seeks to study the dynamics of sea ice and the circulation of water masses from the Atlantic and Pacific to the East Siberian and Laptev Seas.
In parallel, the ship will support the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the management of the NABOS system, focused on the recovery and deployment of subsurface mooring networks. This work will enable the collection of data on ocean currents, temperature and salinity, which are critical to understanding climate change. climatic changes affecting the Nansen and Amundsen basins.
Arctic monitoring and scientific support
Captain Kristen Serumgard, recently appointed as commander of the HealyThe mission directly contributes to national security by enhancing surveillance of the northern sea lanes, she said. The deployment also has a logistical and support component to U.S. sovereignty in an area of growing strategic interest.
In addition to its role in polar researchIn addition to its role in polar research, the Healy is prepared to perform Coast Guard missions such as search and rescue, vessel escort and international treaty compliance in the Arctic.
The departure from Seattle marks the beginning of a critical observation cycle for the scientific agencies involved, reaffirming Healy’s role as a key asset in understanding the transformations affecting the Arctic and their global implications.
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Source and photo: U.S. Coast Guard
