The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) returned to its home port in Seattle on Sunday, Nov. 2, following a 129-day Arctic deployment that covered more than 20,000 miles. The mission concluded the ship’s annual Arctic operations, supporting Operation Arctic West Summer and Operation Frontier Sentinel—two efforts the Coast Guard said are aimed at protecting U.S. sovereignty and advancing national security in polar regions.
As part of Operation Frontier Sentinel, Healy queried and monitored three foreign research vessels operating in ice-covered waters within the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone to protect U.S. territorial integrity. A Coast Guard statement noted that over the summer, five China-affiliated research vessels were active in the Arctic, prompting Healy and other Coast Guard assets to conduct surveillance and maintain presence in coordination with U.S. Northern Command and Alaskan Command.
“Healy’s unique and specialized capabilities allow us to operate in the most remote regions conducting the highest priority missions of the Coast Guard,” said Capt. Kristen Serumgard, commanding officer of Healy. “Healy’s dynamic crew of active duty and civilian personnel showcased tremendous adaptability, dedication, and resilience, steaming over 20,000 miles through ice-covered waters to complete the mission.”
Healy’s crew also partnered with the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, and other federal agencies to deploy and recover subsurface oceanographic equipment across the U.S. Arctic, East Siberian Sea, and Laptev Sea. The data collected contributes to a broader understanding of the Arctic Ocean’s physical, biological, and chemical systems.
In addition to its research and security missions, Healy diverted from operations to assist communities in Western Alaska following a series of severe storms. The crew supported search and rescue and disaster relief operations as part of the Coast Guard’s Arctic District response.
Homeported in Seattle, Healy is the largest cutter in the Coast Guard fleet. The 420’, 16,000-ton vessel can continuously break 4.5 feet of ice at three knots and operate in temperatures as low as -50°F, enabling year-round access to the Arctic Ocean for national security and scientific missions.
