POLAR SEA (Cinderella stamp)
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:38 pm
From the Cinderella files – In 2006 a set of four miniature sheets, each
containing 4 stamps, were issued to commemorate Kiwipex 2006. Of the 16 stamps 6
show ships. 2 show a bulk carrier (AMERICAN TERN), two a Russian research ship
(AKADEMIK SHOKALSKIY) and one each a US Coast Guard icebreaker (USCGC POLAR SEA)
and a US research ship (NATHANIEL B PALMER).
Builder: Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company
Commissioned: 1977
Motto: Always Summer, Never Warm
Status: in active service, as of 2010
General characteristics
Displacement: 13,194 long tons (13,406 t)
Length: 399 ft (122 m) (at designed draft)
Beam: 83 ft 6 in (25.45 m)
Draft: 28 ft (8.5 m) (designed)
Ice class: 6 ft (1.8 m) at 3 kn (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) continuous
21 ft (6.4 m) by backing and ramming
Propulsion: diesel electric or gas turbine
Speed: 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range: 28,275 nmi (52,365 km; 32,538 mi)
Complement: 141
Aircraft carried: 2 HH-65C Dolphin helicopters
USCGC POLAR SEA (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker.
Commissioned in 1977, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and
Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship, Polar Star
(WAGB-10).
Homeported in Seattle, Washington, USCGC POLAR SEA and USCGC POLAR STAR operate
under the control of Pacific Area and coordinate their operations through the
Ice Operations Section of the United States Coast Guard.
POLAR SEA uses four different methods of electronic navigation to overcome the
difficulties of high-latitude operations, and a computerized propulsion control
system to effectively manage six diesel-powered propulsion generators, three
diesel-powered ship's service generators, three propulsion gas turbines, and
other equipment vital to the operation of the ship. The extensive use of
automation and low maintenance materials have greatly reduced staffing
requirements.
POLAR SEA's three shafts are each turned by either a two diesel-electric or one
gas turbine power plants. Each shaft is connected to a 16-foot (4.9-m) diameter,
four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller. For all three shafts, the
diesel-electric plants can produce a total of 18,000 shaft horsepower (13,425
kilowatts) and the gas turbine plants a total of 75,000 demand shaft horsepower
(56 MW) or 60,000 continuous horsepower (44.8 MW).
POLAR SEA has a unique engineering features designed to aid in icebreaking. An
installed heeling system can rock the ship to prevent getting stuck in the ice.
The system consists of three pairs of connected tanks on opposite sides of the
ship. Pumps transfer a tank's contents of 35,000 US gallons (132 m³) to an
opposing tank in 50 seconds and generate 24,000 foot•tons force (65 MN•m) of
torque on the ship. This alternating shifting of weight effectively rocks POLAR
SEA loose from the ice-sheet.
POLAR SEA has sufficient hull strength to absorb the high-powered ice ramming
common to her operations. The shell plating and associated internal support
structure are fabricated from steel with superior low-temperature strength. The
portion of the hull designed to ram ice is 1¾ inches thick (44 mm) in the bow
and stern sections, and 1¼ inches thick (32 mm) amidships. The hull strength is
produced almost entirely from the massive internal support structure. POLAR
SEA's hull shape is designed to maximize icebreaking by efficiently combining
the forces of the ship's forward motion, the downward pull of gravity on the
bow, and the upward push of the inherent buoyancy of the stern. The curved bow
allows POLAR SEA to ride up on the ice; then the bow is levered through the ice
like a giant sledgehammer. With high power to back it up, the 13,000-ton
(13,200-metric ton) POLAR SEA is able to continuously progress through 6 feet
(1.8 m) of ice at 3 knots (6 km/h).
Operations in the remote, hazardous and unforgiving polar regions make it
necessary for the crew of POLAR SEA to be highly self sufficient. The crew
consists of personnel trained in navigation, engineering, welding, machinery
repair, electronics, boat handling, firefighting, damage control, diving,
medicine, and nearly every other kind of special skill that could possibly be
needed. Duty on an icebreaker is long and strenuous, especially when it involves
being away from homeport for up to eight months out of the year. There is a crew
of 24 officers, 20 chief petty officers and 102 enlisted. The ship has four
sizable lounges, a library (recently converted), a gymnasium (in an engineering
space), and a small ship's store. It also has its own U.S. Post Office,
satellite pay telephones, amateur radio equipment, photo lab, and movie library.
POLAR SEA has a variety of missions while operating in polar regions. During
Antarctic deployments, the primary missions include breaking a channel through
the sea ice to resupply the McMurdo Research Station in the Ross Sea. Resupply
ships use the channel to bring food, fuel, and other goods to make it through
another winter. In addition to these duties, POLAR SEA also serves as a
scientific research platform with five laboratories, additional space for seven
portable laboratories on deck and accommodations for up to 35 scientists. The
"J"-shaped cranes and work areas near the stern and port side of ship give
scientists the capability to do at-sea studies in the fields of geology,
vulcanology, oceanography, sea-ice physics and other disciplines.
POLAR SEA carries two HH-65 Dolphin helicopters during major deployments. They
support scientific parties, do ice reconnaissance, cargo transfer, and search
and rescue as required. The Aviation Detachment comes from the Polar Operations
Division at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center, Mobile, Alabama.
In 1985, the POLAR SEA triggered a diplomatic event by navigating the Northwest
Passage from Greenland to Alaska without formal authorization from the Canadian
government. It was the United States' position that the Northwest Passage was an
international strait open to shipping and it sought only to notify Canada rather
than ask for permission. Publication of the plans enraged the Canadian public
opinion as it was regarded as a breach and disregard of sovereignty and prompted
the government to take preventive measures in defending Canada's arctic
territories. The U.S. never recognized Canada's claim over the Northwest passage
but nevertheless, the two countries reached an agreement two years later which
stipulated that in the future, the U.S. would ask permission before navigating
the disputed waters.
In nautical history, POLAR SEA holds several notable records. It is one of only
three ships that has ever completely transited the Arctic Ocean and
circumnavigated North America. On August 22, 1994, POLAR SEA was one of first
two North American surface vessels to reach the North Pole.
On June 16, 2008 the US Coast Guard announced that the POLAR SEA would undergo a
$6.3 million refit in the Todd Shipyards in Seattle. The refit was expected to
be completed by September 2008.
On May 21, 2009, Todd Shipyards announced it had been awarded an additional
$5,515,503 for its maintenance of the POLAR SEA.
20 Nov 2009 - An international research expedition is being conducted in the
Beaufort Sea aboard the Coast Guard heavy icebreaker ship POLAR SEA (WAGB 11).
The expedition is organized and led by the Naval Research Laboratory‚ Marine
Biogeochemistry section.
Sources and links: Wikipedia. http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=78811.
http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcpolarsea ... 091101.asp.
http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcPolarSea/.
Niger 2017 3300F sg?, scott? (in the margin is depict the Russian icebreaker 50 LETPOBEDY)
Sierra Leone 2020 14.500Le sg?, scott? Although this edition is authorized by the Sierra Leone postal administration, it was not sold in Sierra Leone but was only distributed to the novelty trade by the Sierra Leone philatelic agency.
Peter Crichton
containing 4 stamps, were issued to commemorate Kiwipex 2006. Of the 16 stamps 6
show ships. 2 show a bulk carrier (AMERICAN TERN), two a Russian research ship
(AKADEMIK SHOKALSKIY) and one each a US Coast Guard icebreaker (USCGC POLAR SEA)
and a US research ship (NATHANIEL B PALMER).
Builder: Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company
Commissioned: 1977
Motto: Always Summer, Never Warm
Status: in active service, as of 2010
General characteristics
Displacement: 13,194 long tons (13,406 t)
Length: 399 ft (122 m) (at designed draft)
Beam: 83 ft 6 in (25.45 m)
Draft: 28 ft (8.5 m) (designed)
Ice class: 6 ft (1.8 m) at 3 kn (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) continuous
21 ft (6.4 m) by backing and ramming
Propulsion: diesel electric or gas turbine
Speed: 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range: 28,275 nmi (52,365 km; 32,538 mi)
Complement: 141
Aircraft carried: 2 HH-65C Dolphin helicopters
USCGC POLAR SEA (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker.
Commissioned in 1977, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and
Construction Company of Seattle along with her sister ship, Polar Star
(WAGB-10).
Homeported in Seattle, Washington, USCGC POLAR SEA and USCGC POLAR STAR operate
under the control of Pacific Area and coordinate their operations through the
Ice Operations Section of the United States Coast Guard.
POLAR SEA uses four different methods of electronic navigation to overcome the
difficulties of high-latitude operations, and a computerized propulsion control
system to effectively manage six diesel-powered propulsion generators, three
diesel-powered ship's service generators, three propulsion gas turbines, and
other equipment vital to the operation of the ship. The extensive use of
automation and low maintenance materials have greatly reduced staffing
requirements.
POLAR SEA's three shafts are each turned by either a two diesel-electric or one
gas turbine power plants. Each shaft is connected to a 16-foot (4.9-m) diameter,
four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller. For all three shafts, the
diesel-electric plants can produce a total of 18,000 shaft horsepower (13,425
kilowatts) and the gas turbine plants a total of 75,000 demand shaft horsepower
(56 MW) or 60,000 continuous horsepower (44.8 MW).
POLAR SEA has a unique engineering features designed to aid in icebreaking. An
installed heeling system can rock the ship to prevent getting stuck in the ice.
The system consists of three pairs of connected tanks on opposite sides of the
ship. Pumps transfer a tank's contents of 35,000 US gallons (132 m³) to an
opposing tank in 50 seconds and generate 24,000 foot•tons force (65 MN•m) of
torque on the ship. This alternating shifting of weight effectively rocks POLAR
SEA loose from the ice-sheet.
POLAR SEA has sufficient hull strength to absorb the high-powered ice ramming
common to her operations. The shell plating and associated internal support
structure are fabricated from steel with superior low-temperature strength. The
portion of the hull designed to ram ice is 1¾ inches thick (44 mm) in the bow
and stern sections, and 1¼ inches thick (32 mm) amidships. The hull strength is
produced almost entirely from the massive internal support structure. POLAR
SEA's hull shape is designed to maximize icebreaking by efficiently combining
the forces of the ship's forward motion, the downward pull of gravity on the
bow, and the upward push of the inherent buoyancy of the stern. The curved bow
allows POLAR SEA to ride up on the ice; then the bow is levered through the ice
like a giant sledgehammer. With high power to back it up, the 13,000-ton
(13,200-metric ton) POLAR SEA is able to continuously progress through 6 feet
(1.8 m) of ice at 3 knots (6 km/h).
Operations in the remote, hazardous and unforgiving polar regions make it
necessary for the crew of POLAR SEA to be highly self sufficient. The crew
consists of personnel trained in navigation, engineering, welding, machinery
repair, electronics, boat handling, firefighting, damage control, diving,
medicine, and nearly every other kind of special skill that could possibly be
needed. Duty on an icebreaker is long and strenuous, especially when it involves
being away from homeport for up to eight months out of the year. There is a crew
of 24 officers, 20 chief petty officers and 102 enlisted. The ship has four
sizable lounges, a library (recently converted), a gymnasium (in an engineering
space), and a small ship's store. It also has its own U.S. Post Office,
satellite pay telephones, amateur radio equipment, photo lab, and movie library.
POLAR SEA has a variety of missions while operating in polar regions. During
Antarctic deployments, the primary missions include breaking a channel through
the sea ice to resupply the McMurdo Research Station in the Ross Sea. Resupply
ships use the channel to bring food, fuel, and other goods to make it through
another winter. In addition to these duties, POLAR SEA also serves as a
scientific research platform with five laboratories, additional space for seven
portable laboratories on deck and accommodations for up to 35 scientists. The
"J"-shaped cranes and work areas near the stern and port side of ship give
scientists the capability to do at-sea studies in the fields of geology,
vulcanology, oceanography, sea-ice physics and other disciplines.
POLAR SEA carries two HH-65 Dolphin helicopters during major deployments. They
support scientific parties, do ice reconnaissance, cargo transfer, and search
and rescue as required. The Aviation Detachment comes from the Polar Operations
Division at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center, Mobile, Alabama.
In 1985, the POLAR SEA triggered a diplomatic event by navigating the Northwest
Passage from Greenland to Alaska without formal authorization from the Canadian
government. It was the United States' position that the Northwest Passage was an
international strait open to shipping and it sought only to notify Canada rather
than ask for permission. Publication of the plans enraged the Canadian public
opinion as it was regarded as a breach and disregard of sovereignty and prompted
the government to take preventive measures in defending Canada's arctic
territories. The U.S. never recognized Canada's claim over the Northwest passage
but nevertheless, the two countries reached an agreement two years later which
stipulated that in the future, the U.S. would ask permission before navigating
the disputed waters.
In nautical history, POLAR SEA holds several notable records. It is one of only
three ships that has ever completely transited the Arctic Ocean and
circumnavigated North America. On August 22, 1994, POLAR SEA was one of first
two North American surface vessels to reach the North Pole.
On June 16, 2008 the US Coast Guard announced that the POLAR SEA would undergo a
$6.3 million refit in the Todd Shipyards in Seattle. The refit was expected to
be completed by September 2008.
On May 21, 2009, Todd Shipyards announced it had been awarded an additional
$5,515,503 for its maintenance of the POLAR SEA.
20 Nov 2009 - An international research expedition is being conducted in the
Beaufort Sea aboard the Coast Guard heavy icebreaker ship POLAR SEA (WAGB 11).
The expedition is organized and led by the Naval Research Laboratory‚ Marine
Biogeochemistry section.
Sources and links: Wikipedia. http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=78811.
http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcpolarsea ... 091101.asp.
http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcPolarSea/.
Niger 2017 3300F sg?, scott? (in the margin is depict the Russian icebreaker 50 LETPOBEDY)
Sierra Leone 2020 14.500Le sg?, scott? Although this edition is authorized by the Sierra Leone postal administration, it was not sold in Sierra Leone but was only distributed to the novelty trade by the Sierra Leone philatelic agency.
Peter Crichton