The Healy icebreaker of the U.S. Coast Guard Service leaves Seattle Monday to go to the Arctic Ocean for research mission.
Photo: ÈÒÀÐ-ÒÀÑÑ
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U.S. Healy Leaves for Arctic Research to Counter Russia’s Claim
The Healy icebreaker of the U.S. Coast Guard Service leaves Seattle Monday to go to the Arctic Ocean for research mission.
The Healy is one of the three heavy Arctic icebreakers operated by the United States. The second vessel, the Polar Sea, is in the dry dock now and its scheduled repair is due to complete in November. The third icebreaker, the Polar Star, has been standing by since 2006.
In addition to the tasks of the U.S. Coast Guard Service, the Healy is also the head vessel of the United States for purposes of civil research.
The Healy employs 140, including 85 crew members and 35 researchers and other people. The timing of its polar voyage is interesting, just after Russia’s two mini-subs dived deep under the ice near the North Pole, took soil and fauna samples and planted the country's flag there, laying a symbolic claim to the land.
Today’s concern of the United States is to ratify the Law of the Sea Convention and join other Arctic-bordering nations in their competition for potential crude oil and gas wealth of the region that is becoming more and more attractive in light of the melting sea ice.
www.kommersant.com
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