SEATTLE — After a 308-day deployment to one of the most remote regions on Earth, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star has returned home to Seattle, marking the end of its 28th voyage to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze.

The Polar Star is the nation’s only heavy icebreaker — a nearly 400-foot-long vessel capable of producing up to 75,000 horsepower and crushing ice with its 13,500-ton frame. That power makes it a critical asset for the Coast Guard’s annual mission to the southernmost continent, where the United States conducts a wide range of scientific research.

“This is my third time going to Antarctica,” said Capt. Jeff Rasnake, commanding officer of the Polar Star. “It lived up to every expectation.”

The ship departed Seattle in November 2024, traveling more than 25,0

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