Arctic Resupply Mission. A close-up view of the Coast Guard icebreaker WESTWIND trapped in heavy Polar ice floes under pressure of high north winds, five miles from her destination Weather Station Alert, on the northeast and of Ellsmere Island (Lat. 82 - 31'N; Long. 61 - 37'W), 450 miles from the North Pole. From September 1 to 10, the WESTWIND lay incapable of maneuvering free of her icy prison. Her port screw was damaged in an attempt to break through heavy ice while enroute to this position of her journey. In attempting to free the ship, the crew tried running the WESTWIND's six engines at
Arctic Resupply Mission. A close-up view of the Coast Guard icebreaker WESTWIND trapped in heavy Polar ice floes under pressure of high north winds, five miles from her destination Weather Station Alert, on the northeast and of Ellsmere Island (Lat. 82 - 31'N; Long. 61 - 37'W), 450 miles from the North Pole. From September 1 to 10, the WESTWIND lay incapable of maneuvering free of her icy prison. Her port screw was damaged in an attempt to break through heavy ice while enroute to this position of her journey. In attempting to free the ship, the crew tried running the WESTWIND's six engines at high speed, utilizing the heeling tanks, planting demolition charges in the ice, and carrying both anchors manually across ice floes. Finally, on September 10, the wind shifted to the southwest and opened the Polar pack enabling the cutter to break out of the trap. Having to abandon the mission to supply Alert, the WESTWIND returned to the base at Thule, Greenland.
Size: 5641px × 5001px
Photo credit: © NB/USC / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 17-a2-171, 26-, coast, guard, history, job, rdss, rg
