{"id":46984,"date":"2018-07-26T15:35:11","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T15:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/26\/heavy-polar-icebreaker-questions-mount-for-coast-guard\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:21:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:21:04","slug":"heavy-polar-icebreaker-questions-mount-for-coast-guard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/07\/26\/heavy-polar-icebreaker-questions-mount-for-coast-guard\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavy polar icebreaker questions mount for Coast Guard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 Potential funding woes and questions about the aggressive proposed timelines have cast doubts about the future of the Coast Guard\u2019s new heavy polar ice breaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government Accountability Office is dubious the service\u2019s lone heavy polar icebreaker can make it to its proposed 2023 retirement date and questioned whether the Coast Guard\u2019s construction schedule was too optimistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Coast Guard is planing to replace the Polar Star with the new heavy icebreaker the same year, something GAO said may not be \u201crealistic and feasible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The watchdog noted the aging Polar Star could reach the end of its service life as soon as 2020, and the \u201chighly optimistic\u201d delivery date of the new vessel could be delayed and leave the service without a heavy polar icebreaker to defend strategic Arctic interests for several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vice Adm. Daniel Abel, deputy commandant for operations, recently told the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee at a hearing that the Polar Star is \u201climping along, and nothing with a US flag could rescue her [in the Arctic] if something happened, putting our polar capabilities at risk.”<\/p>\n\n\n\t