In Seattle,Cantwell,Larsen Urge House to Save Polar Sea Icebreaker(Why?)

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) ^ | Oct 09 2012 | U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

[mdittmar]

Icebreaker docked in Seattle could be scrapped after 2012 unless Congress acts

SEATTLE, WA – Today at Vigor Shipyards, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) called on the U.S. Congress to preserve the nation’s only operational heavy duty icebreaker, the Polar Sea. Unless Congress acts, the Polar Sea is scheduled to be dismantled in 2013.

Cantwell and Larsen are urging the House to adopt language on a critical Coast Guard bill that would postpone the decommissioning of the Polar Sea icebreaker until a new heavy duty icebreaker is built. The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act for Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 (HR 2838) passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 22 and the House in late 2011. The Senate version  includes a Cantwell-written amendment that would postpone the decommissioning of the Polar Sea icebreaker until a new heavy duty icebreaker is built.

The Polar Sea is currently docked in Seattle and is scheduled to be dismantled in 2013. Scrapping the Polar Sea would leave the United States with only one operational icebreaker, the Healy, which only has medium icebreaking capability. Vigor Shipyards is currently refitting the nation’s second heavy duty icebreaker, the Polar Star, which has spent years in ‘caretaker’ status.

“Icebreakers protect America’s interest in the Arctic and support shipbuilding jobs in Washington state,” Cantwell said. “The need for icebreakers grows every year, and we need to keep the icebreaker Polar Sea at sea where it belongs. Representative Larsen and I will continue to work to protect our fleet of icebreakers and the jobs that depend on them.”

“The Arctic will be the Northwest Passage of the 21^st century, and the United States needs icebreakers to secure our interests in the region,” said Larsen, Ranking Member of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee. “Maintaining an icebreaker fleet protects American commerce and our national security, and creates hundreds of jobs right here in the Puget Sound. We should not cede this region to international competitors. Sen. Cantwell and I are working hard to make sure Congress passes this bill to protect American icebreakers and American jobs.”

Cantwell has been the leading advocate in the Senate for the nation’s icebreakers while the Administration and Congress consider all options to fulfill the nation’s growing need for them. In June, she worked with Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to secure an agreement with the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard to postpone the scheduled June dismantling of the Polar Sea through the end of 2012.

Larsen has led efforts in the House of Representatives to protect the icebreaker fleet. As the ranking Democrat on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Larsen has convened hearings and authored legislation to protect the icebreakers. He is currently negotiating with Congressional leaders to pass language protecting icebreakers in the House.

The Coast Guard’s icebreaker fleet is based and serviced in Seattle. Refurbishing a large icebreaking vessel like the Polar Star can take roughly five years and employ upwards of 300 workers. Building a new vessel can take eight years to ten years and employ more than 1,000 workers.

The melting polar ice caps have opened new passageways through the Arctic ice and created new opportunities for trade and international commerce. Emerging resource development in the Arctic is also bringing up additional environmental concerns and increasing the importance of vessels capable of operating in sea ice. Icebreakers are also key for scientific research critical to understanding global climate change. Historically, these vessels have also helped resupply the McMurdo Station, the main U.S. station in Antarctica on the southern tip of Ross Island. However over the last few years the United States has been forced to contract foreign icebreaking to deliver supplies to the station.

Cantwell, a member and former chair of the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee, played a leading role in authoring the last Coast Guard Reauthorization, which became law in October 2010.

###

[mdittmar]

Why have an icebreaker?

Our dimwit senator says in this press release that we don't need it!

"The melting polar ice caps have opened new passageways through the Arctic ice "

[Paladin2]

Seems like it'd be good to have two. One to help the first when it gets stuck.

Sorta like hard drives.

[irishtenor]

Why, says you? It’s simple. All you have to do is think like a stupid ultraliberal Senator.

The first word is POLAR. That means it must have something to do with the cold north somewhere. This is of vital importance, because the polar whateveritis is melting, so was have to save it.
The next word is SEA. As we all know, the seas are rising due to the polar stuff we just talked about. Seas are important because without them, the whales would have to walk, and we do want to save the whales, don’t we?
The other two words are ICE BREAKER. Although breaking things is not always the best policy, ice breakers are important when people at a cocktail party do not know each other. Therefore, we must also save the ice breakers.
So when you put all four words together, POLAR SEA ICE BREAKER, it becomes four times as important to save as just one thing.
That, plus it might mean something about polar bears, which are cute and cuddly.

[mdittmar]

We are blessed with two dimwit senators,gotta love it;)

[Redmen4ever]

Apparently, we have an icebreaker in service ... the Healy. See:

http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2012/01/08/rescue-mission-to-nome-russian-tanker-renda-uscg-icebreaker-healy-battle-ice-to-deliver-fuel/

The Coast Guard has three ice breakers, two of which are not in service. They are this one, scheduled to be broken up, and her sister ship, out of service but in a kind of limbo status. They are 1970s era ships. To truly re-fit them would cost $400 million. This is about half the cost of a new ice breaker.

The main use of these ice breakers is scientific. Not breaking ice for war ships or for commercial ships (although the Healy was recently pressed into service for that purpose).

The Russians, on the other hand, have an extensive fleet of icebreakers, both government and private. They’re serious about this.

[HereInTheHeartland]

The article says the 2 Dems are fighting to save it; which seems like a good thing.
Did I miss something?

It seems we should not only save this one; but have a much more robust fleet. Will we surrender the Arctic to the Russians?

[irishtenor]

Two of the dumbest. Sort of like dumb and dumber. I am not too confident about most of our congressmen, either.

[mdittmar]

Did I miss something?

Yes you did U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said ,

"The melting polar ice caps have opened new passageways through the Arctic ice "

[ApplegateRanch]

Like everything else government, have to wait for a “crisis” to act.

IF they knew this ship was to be scrapped; and they knew it would take 8-10 years to build a new one, then why wasn’t one ordered 12 years ago, (which would have allowed work on it to be started 10 years ago) to have a replacement ready and waiting next year? Meanwhile, we can contract with Russia for the ice breaking.

NASA did the same thing with the Space Shuttles; they KNEW when they were supposed to be retired, but kept refusing to start work on replacements, while waiting for the “perfect design” that would “all incorporated the latest technology”. Then, they “extended the service life”, while STILL not building any replacements. Now, we hire Russia to do it.

Good thing Obama & Putin are good friends; maybe we hould reelect Obama, so we can outsource more stuff to Russia, to keep up the friendship! /SARC

[HereInTheHeartland]

“”The melting polar ice caps have opened new passageways through the Arctic ice “

Well yes that statement is goofy.

But it still looks like she is advocating for a stronger ice breaking capability in the area which seems like a no brainer.
It seems like a national defense issue.

Not sure how anyone would argue with what she is asking for?

[mdittmar]

Umm,let me think.

STOP SPENDING!!!

[HereInTheHeartland]

“Umm,let me think.
STOP SPENDING!!! “

Of the few things our federal government SHOULD be doing; you don't this as one?

I sure do. Absolutely.

[El Laton Caliente]

It actually does melt for about two months in the summer, then closes in September... every year.

If you want to get sea going barges to Barrow and Prudhoe Bay (the USA’s largest Oil Field) outside of those two months, you need an ice breaker. Some years even with the melt the ice closes the passage. Then you have to have the ice breaker or have the cargo wait until the next year’s melt.