One of America's two icebreaker ships is falling apart but the wall holds priority

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The U.S. military's only heavy-duty icebreaker suffered more equipment breakdowns during its mission to Antarctica this season, adding urgency to the calls for Congress to approve long-delayed funding to replace the aging polar fleet.

As the icebreaker Polar Star led a supply mission to a research station in early January, its crew faced power outages that forced it to shut down the ship's power plant and reboot the electrical system. Leaks forced the Coast Guard to send divers into the icy water to repair the seal around the propeller shaft. And one of two systems that provide drinking water for the crew also failed, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

-snip-

InsideClimate News reported late last year on the decadeslong effort to build new icebreakers as a warming Arctic increases ship traffic and access to natural resources. Even as the ice melts, unpredictable floes can still trap ships. The opening of the Arctic has also emerged as a national security priority for the Navy. While Congress has put off funding for new icebreakers year after year, Russia has built out a fleet of more than 40.

The future of the Coast Guard's icebreaker program may now depend on President Donald Trump's demand for funding for a border wall and how Congress responds.

-more-

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/one-of-americas-two-icebreaker-ships-is-falling-apart/ar-BBT352J?li=BBnb7Kz

[VMA131Marine]

1. It's fine!

Russia has lots of icebreakers!

[Submariner]

2. Plenty of money for jobs programs like aircraft carrier

construction at approx $12 billion a pop, but pennies for the CG. It’s inexcusable to not have multiple first class ice breakers on duty.

[PJMcK]

3. We won't need icebreakers

Once global climate change really kicks in, there won't be any massive ice blockages. Accordingly, who needs icebreakers?

(snark)

[riversedge]

4. Dems are onto this....

Democrats on Wednesday released a budget negotiating document warning that the icebreaker program is among a list of top priorities that "we will not have the funding to address if the president insists we set aside $5.7 billion for border barriers." The Coast Guard's most recent review determined that it needs six new icebreakers, with $750 million requested to build one new ship.