Dramatic Rescue In Antarctica

Ed Mazza
Updated

The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued the crew of a ship that was trapped in the Antarctic ice for nearly a week.

The Antarctic Chieftain, a 207-foot Australian-flagged fishing vessel, called for help on Feb. 10 when it suffered damage to three of its four propellers after becoming beset in the ice roughly 900 miles northeast of McMurdo Sound.

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star, the nation's only heavy icebreaker, had to cut through 150 miles of ice that was up to 20 feet thick in some areas -- at times in whiteout conditions -- to reach the Antarctic Chieftain and rescue its crew of 26.

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“There were some very happy sailors aboard Antarctic Chieftain upon our arrival,” Capt. Matthew Walker, the commanding officer of the Polar Star, said in a news release. “The ice conditions that we found the fishermen in were dire, more so if Antarctic Chieftain had to stay much longer.”

Here's an image of the Antarctic Chieftain trapped in the ice:

antarctica
antarctica

In an update posted to Facebook last week, Walker described the challenge of just reaching the ship.

“We are navigating through heavy pack ice, dodging massive icebergs that range in size from a Home Depot to some that are miles across, often in low visibility conditions," the statement said. "The mission…we are now engaged (in) demonstrates the Coast Guard's core mission to save lives at sea -- in any continents' waters."

In this image, a Polar Star crew member watches as the ship breaks up the ice around the Antarctic Chieftain on Feb. 13:

antarctic chieftain
antarctic chieftain

Once the Antarctic Chieftain was freed, the Polar Star towed it out of the ice, but the towline broke three times.

"Towing is always challenging, this evolution poses more risk because of the harsh weather and extensive ice coverage," Lt. j.g. Joel Wright, Polar Star's operations officer, told gCaptain.com.

Eventually, the Polar Star brought the Antarctic Chieftain into open water, where it was able to maneuver under its own power.

The Polar Star had been in the area as part of Operation Deep Freeze, an annual mission to cut through the ice in McMurdo Sound and create a channel so that McMurdo Station can be resupplied.

The Coast Guard has been documenting the journey on its website, which you can read here.

The Polar Star is now heading to its home port in Seattle.

8.1

South of Beardmore Glacier, the Transantarctic Mountains are composed of high, blocky massifs topped by layers of flat-lying sedimentary rocks, as seen here in a portion of the Prince Olav Mountains. Shackleton Glacier flows to the right from the top center of the image.
South of Beardmore Glacier, the Transantarctic Mountains are composed of high, blocky massifs topped by layers of flat-lying sedimentary rocks, as seen here in a portion of the Prince Olav Mountains. Shackleton Glacier flows to the right from the top center of the image.

8.2

Liv Glacier flows for 45 miles from the polar plateau through the Transantarctic Mountains to the Ross Ice Shelf in the foreground. Byrd’s flight to the South Pole followed the left (east) side of the glacier. Mt. Fridtjof Nansen is the highest peak on the horizon to the east (left) of Liv Glacier.
Liv Glacier flows for 45 miles from the polar plateau through the Transantarctic Mountains to the Ross Ice Shelf in the foreground. Byrd’s flight to the South Pole followed the left (east) side of the glacier. Mt. Fridtjof Nansen is the highest peak on the horizon to the east (left) of Liv Glacier.

8.3

With broad bends in its upper reaches, Axel Heiberg Glacier descends steeply from the polar plateau. En route to the South Pole, Roald Amundsen’s party drove dog teams in a zigzag pattern up the ascending ramps, avoiding the steeper icefalls of the glacier.
With broad bends in its upper reaches, Axel Heiberg Glacier descends steeply from the polar plateau. En route to the South Pole, Roald Amundsen’s party drove dog teams in a zigzag pattern up the ascending ramps, avoiding the steeper icefalls of the glacier.

8.4

Intricate ridgelines populate the central drainage of Amundsen Glacier, flowing from left to right in the middle ground. At the horizon, Rawson Plateau marks the boundary of the polar plateau.
Intricate ridgelines populate the central drainage of Amundsen Glacier, flowing from left to right in the middle ground. At the horizon, Rawson Plateau marks the boundary of the polar plateau.

8.5

With a width of ten miles, the upper reaches of Scott Glacier spill subtly from the polar plateau, past Mt. Howe, 60 miles to the south, barely seen between the two nunataks (islands in ice) at the horizon.
With a width of ten miles, the upper reaches of Scott Glacier spill subtly from the polar plateau, past Mt. Howe, 60 miles to the south, barely seen between the two nunataks (islands in ice) at the horizon.

8.6

Mt. Early, Earth’s southernmost volcano, displays a yellow mantle at its summit composed of palagonite, a yellow, volcanic glass that was fragmented during the eruption of magma into overlying ice of the previously relatively higher East Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Mt. Early, Earth’s southernmost volcano, displays a yellow mantle at its summit composed of palagonite, a yellow, volcanic glass that was fragmented during the eruption of magma into overlying ice of the previously relatively higher East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

8.7

Mt. Howe, 25 miles distant, the southernmost outcrop of rock on Earth, as viewed from the summit of Mt. Early.
Mt. Howe, 25 miles distant, the southernmost outcrop of rock on Earth, as viewed from the summit of Mt. Early.

8.8

The majestic, unclimbed Mt. Astor is the highest peak in the Hays Mountains. All but the tip of the summit is massive granite, the top being horizontal sedimentary rock.
The majestic, unclimbed Mt. Astor is the highest peak in the Hays Mountains. All but the tip of the summit is massive granite, the top being horizontal sedimentary rock.

8.9

Grizzly Peak and Mt. Zanuck tower over the northern (right) flank of Sanctuary Glacier. The Hays Mountains merge into cloud on the far side of Scott Glacier, glimpsed flowing left to right in the gap between the low peaks in the left center of the image.
Grizzly Peak and Mt. Zanuck tower over the northern (right) flank of Sanctuary Glacier. The Hays Mountains merge into cloud on the far side of Scott Glacier, glimpsed flowing left to right in the gap between the low peaks in the left center of the image.

8.10

The Spectre, central spire of the Organ Pipe Peaks, fantasy of mountain, fastness beyond reach.
The Spectre, central spire of the Organ Pipe Peaks, fantasy of mountain, fastness beyond reach.

8.11

View from the shoulder of The Spectre across Scott Glacier (flowing left to right) to the Hays Mountains.
View from the shoulder of The Spectre across Scott Glacier (flowing left to right) to the Hays Mountains.

8.12

This view from the summit of Mt. Analogue reaches past the south side of Mt. Doumani, past the dark pyramid of Mt. Tellar, to ranges that bound Reedy Glacier 75 miles to the east. For the 75 miles beyond that, the Transantarctic Mountains dwindle in relief and width, and are finally overcome by the merger of the East and West Antarctic Ice Sheets.
This view from the summit of Mt. Analogue reaches past the south side of Mt. Doumani, past the dark pyramid of Mt. Tellar, to ranges that bound Reedy Glacier 75 miles to the east. For the 75 miles beyond that, the Transantarctic Mountains dwindle in relief and width, and are finally overcome by the merger of the East and West Antarctic Ice Sheets.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.