USCGC Glacier The Story

An uniquely ambitious program to redeploy a historic polar veteran, the USS GLACIER, for humanitarian missions is under way. It made Antarctic history by becoming the first ship to penetrate the Bellinghausen Sea to make landfall on Thurston Island. The Glacier served as RADM Richard E. Byrd's flagship during Operation DEEPFREEZE 1 (1955-'56). Today the GLACIER is moored in Susin Bay, CA at the Maritime Admin. Defense Reserve Fleet Facility where hundreds of volunteers assemble monthly to assist with the restoration. A pier in the great city of San Francisco is awaiting its arrival.

The Glacier Society is dedicated to the restoration and redeployment of an 'operational' oceanographic platform for marine and medical science, environmental education and the preservation of 250 years of polar history. With bases on both coasts the USS/USCGC  Glacier will provide America with the first unique living museum for "Uniting Polar Interests Around the Globe". Its restoration and redeployment for HUMANITARIAN causes will be in honor of the men and women who served during the 32 years of expeditions to the North and South Poles.

When commissioned in 1955, it was the world's largest and most powerful icebreaker; 310 feet long with a beam of 74 feet and a full load displacement of 8,915 tons. Glacier, with a full crew of 325 officers, enlisted personnel, scientists and foreign
dignitaries was capable of breaking ice twenty feet thick in places where no man had gone before. From 1955-66 the "Mighty G" served with the US Navy. In 1966, the Coast Guard assumed total responsibility for the US icebreaking missions and all Navy
icebreakers were transferred to the USCG. GLACIER then began her 21 year Coast Guard career. In 1972, her hull was painted red and the GLACIER assumed the name "Big Red". During her 32 years of service the ship made 39 expeditions each lasting an
average of nine months while steaming nearly a million miles into uncharted waters to the ends of the earth.

The Glacier's primary responsibility was conducting significant scientific and environmental research with experts from thirteen different nations. The ship routinely broke through twenty miles of channel permitting cargo vessels to bring supplies to the American base at McMurdo Sound. The Glacier also rescued the ice beset Danish ship, KISTA DAN which was carrying veteran explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs. On its way back to Boston, the Glacier assisted in flood relief for two weeks in an area near Forteleza on the Northeastern coast of Brazil.

Individuals and organizations interested in learning more about this important ship restoration and redeployment or participating on board as a volunteer are urged to visit www.glaciersociety.org