Glacier (WAGB 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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Our Eyes in the Sky : we use our helos to spot suspect ships and find leads in the ice. Law Enforcement Ice Breaking Glacier is specifically designed for ice operations with her reinforced steel bow. a rounded hull and her heeling system to sally the ship if needed. Glac- ier breaks ice by running up on it where her immense weight will fissure the ice and displace it to an area of lower pressure. In thick ice, Glacier often must back and ram repeatedly until the ice finally gives way. Her unique design with her ten main diesel engines permit her to penetrate deep into the ice for scientific research to be conducted. Glacier is also used to break out bays and har- bors like McMurdo sound. Glaciers ice breaking prowess make .Antarctica accessible to scientific research. Glacier has also been called upon to act as part of the law enforcement arm of the Coast Guard in its ongoing war against drugs and contraband being shipped into the United States. In the past two years, we have made a number of boardings, spent weeks on patrol, and assisted local governments patrol their own waters for illegal activities.

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■ ANTARCTIC TREATY AND DEEP FREEZE The Antarctic Treaty became effec- tive on June 23, 1961. The consultative nations to the treaty are: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Federal Repub- lic of Germany, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Russia, Great Britain, and the United States. The treaty provides that Antarc- tica shall be used for peaceful purposes only. It does allow employment of mil- itary personnel and equipment for sup- port of scientific investigation. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is responsible for overall man- agement and funding of the coordi- nated U.S. program in Antarctica The Department of Defense (U.S. Navy), State Department and Department of Transportation (U.S. Coast Guard) have been assigned supporting responsibilities. Operation Deep Freeze is the nick- name given to operations conducted under the operational control of the Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica (CNFSA). CNFSA coordinates logistic support for the U.S. Antarctic program, employing several DOD units, a civilian contractor and Coast Guard icebreakers. Operation Deep Freeze involves the deployment of scientific and support personnel, certain con- struction projects, logistic and supply operations, facility operation and sur- face operations, winterover operations, and other support services. r Walking, much less conducting science ops, can be quite a challenge. MISSIONS The Glacier has many different mis- sions to carry out. It ' s major missions are scientific research and cargo han- dling. The ship also assists in Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement. Even though its primary missions, as a Coast Guard unit it must preserve life and property at sea; therefore Search and Rescue will override all other missions. Designed for this role having five (Bio, Dry, Instruments Seismic and Science Ops Glacier ' s major functions is assisting the National Science Foundation in Antarc- tica as a research platform. She is uni- quely suited for this role. Wet) labs on board, plus a weather office and two oceanographic winches. This trip two science vans were placed on the fantail to act as yet two more laboratories. Operations from coring and seismic surveys to macro and micro biological studies can be com- pleted on board. Glacier is well equipped to handle any form of research desired by the scientist she carries. Resupply and Cargo Glacier is used as a cargo ship to resupply the American stations in Antarctica and to bring cargo from both Palmer and McMurdo stations to the states. Glacier also ferries scientists back and forth to Antarctica Search and Rescue The primary mission of the Coast Guard is Search and Rescue and Glac- ier is no exception. In the last two years Glacier has been twice diverted from its planned route to participate in SAR operations. While Glacier ' s major func- tion is not SAR, a SAR case takes precedence to any other operations being conducted. Research vessel Melville, Glacier ' s partner for Science Cruise II. We conducted cargo ops via zodiac with them.

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ABOVE: Dr. Sullivan returns to home base. RIGHT: Divers pre- pare to take photographs and collect algae samples from the ice. 26 Small Boats Do a Big Job During the Ameriez Cruise, Glacier would head to a designated spot and set up a superstation. There Glacier acts as a home base where field crews head out in the zodiacs to conduct dive operations, penguin and seal samplings and take ice cores. Deck Force was invalu- able to the research: getting zodiacs underway on short notice, provid- ing coxswains and maintaining the zodiac ' s condition. The zodiacs gave the scientists access to all parts of a superstation and allowed free- dom of movement independent of each other and the ship.