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Video by Senior Chief Petty Officer NyxoLyno Cangemi

Coast Guard's only heavy icebreaker develops shaft seal leak

U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area

Jan. 10, 2020 | 0:47

One of the main shaft seals onboard the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) began leaking Friday about 18 miles north of McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
Crewmembers used a hand pump air ram to free a clog in the shaft seal drain pipe and tightened the bolts surround the seal in order to stop the leak.
The shaft was a source of a leak during Operation Deep Freeze 2018-2019, which required the use of Coast Guard divers to effect the repair from underneath the 399-foot icebreaker. The crew of Polar Star is participating in Operation Deep Freeze 2019-2020 in order to break the ice near McMurdo Station in order escort refuel and resupply ship. U.S. Coast Guard video by Senior Chief Petty Officer NyxoLyno Cangemi