WHO: Coast Guard crewmembers and scientists assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Healy
WHAT: Coast Guard crewmembers and scientists to provide details about their scientific research mission and their upcoming deployment to the North Pole. Media members will be able to view and capture footage of the onload of scientific equipment, supplies and cutter preparations.
WHEN: Thursday at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Coast Guard Base Seattle, 1519 Alaskan Way South, Seattle
WHY: Coast Guard Research and Development Center personnel will be returning to Healy for the cutter’s annual summer deployment to evaluate and improve Coast Guard capabilities in the Arctic. Operations will include Arctic communications testing, Arctic navigation improvements, search and rescue exercises and ship-to-shore transfer improvements.
The Healy is United States' newest and most technologically advanced polar icebreaker. It is designed to support a wide range of research activities, providing more than 4,200 square feet of scientific laboratory space, numerous electronic sensor systems, oceanographic winches, and accommodations for up to 50 scientists. At a time when scientific interest in the Arctic Ocean basin is intensifying, Healy substantially enhances the United States Arctic research capability.
As a Coast Guard cutter, Healy is also a capable platform for supporting other potential missions in the polar regions, including logistics, search and rescue, ship escorts, environmental protection, and enforcement of laws and treaties.
Learn more about Healy and the Coast Guard’s scientific research mission at http://icefloe.net. Mission updates are available at http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcHealy under the mission update tab to include the past seven years of operations.
Interested media members must contact the Coast Guard 13th District Public Affairs Office at 206-220-7237 by Thursday at 8 a.m. to ensure access to the base and the cutter.