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| THE 'SHIP' THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD
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| 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. |
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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.
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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
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