The big news in McMurdo today is the arrival of the Polar Star. The Polar Star is operated by the United States Coast Guard and it is the US's only polar-class heavy icebreaker. The ship moves very slowly and we have been able to see it approaching for days. It has made at least two passes through the ice, making a nice wide channel that other ships can follow.
The Polar Star icebreaker clearing a path through the ice. It makes multiple passes to clear a wide enough path for the other ships.
The bow of the ship moves up onto the ice and the ship's weight, combined with its forward movement, break the ice up. The Polar Star has made a path through the sea ice and it will soon be followed by the Nathaniel B. Palmer research ship and the resupply cargo ship sometime next week.
The Polar Star viewed form McMurdo Station.
We have been receiving emails notifying us about increased activity in the next few days and area closures as the town prepares for the arrival of the ships. There was even an email suggesting that we buy anything we really wanted at the station store before they open it up to crews from the ships. Apparently the ship crews clean out most of the remaining merchandise every year.
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