The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a cruise ship that was trapped in “pack ice” near Antarctica over the weekend.
In a press release, the U.S. Coast Guard said, “The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) began icebreaking operations in the Southern Ocean in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2026 and marked its 50th year of commissioned service Saturday by freeing and escorting a cruise ship trapped in pack ice.”
“The Australian-owned cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II contacted Polar Star at approximately 11 p.m., local time Friday after becoming beset in pack ice roughly eight nautical miles from McMurdo Sound,” the Coast Guard added. “Polar Star’s crew conducted two close passes to break the vessel free, then escorted it approximately four nautical miles to open water.”
According to Fox News, the Coast Guard confirmed that no injuries were reported from the incident and that the cruise ship was able to continue its voyage after being freed by the Coast Guard icebreaker.
A video shared by Fox News on X, formerly Twitter, shows the USCG Polar Star breaking the Antarctic ice and helping escort the Scenic Eclipse II back to open water.
In a statement obtained by Fox News, Scenic Group, the cruise ship company that operates the Scenic Eclipse II, said, “Due to changes in the pack ice, progress was slower than planned, and the captain requested assistance from the nearby vessel USCG Polar Star to clear the area together and avoid a longer sailing period at reduced speed. The following day, the natural movement of the ice had opened up again, and conditions had normalized.”
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Captain James Griffiths, the general manager of Scenic Group’s ocean operations, thanked the USCG Polar Star for helping free the vessel from the Antarctic ice and claimed that while the cruise ship was “never in need of rescue services,” the coordination between the cruise ship and the Coast Guard cutter ensured that the cruise ship was able to “navigate the changing pack ice safely and efficiently.”
In the press release, the Coast Guard explained that the USCG Polar Star is America’s only “heavy icebreaker” that is currently active. The Coast Guard noted that the vessel has executed a variety of missions over its five decades of service.
“At 50 years old, Polar Star remains the world’s most capable non-nuclear icebreaker,” Commander Samuel Blase, the executive officer of the Polar Star, said. “That’s a testament to the crews that have maintained it over the decades. With years of service left to give, Polar Star will continue to guide the way in the high latitudes well into the future.”