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OPERATION CASE STUDY DEEP FREEZE RESUPPLY OF MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA PROJECT LOCATION: U.S. West Coast, New Zealand, and Antarctica CLIENT: National Science Foundation and US Navy VESSEL: M/V Ocean Giant DURATION: December 2017 to January 2018 CARGO Scientific equipment, ice core samples, and a year’s worth of station supplies. A total of 550 pieces of cargo, weighing in at nearly seven million pounds; including food, building supplies, vehicles, electrical equipment, and parts. OVERVIEW Resupply and return of equipment from Antarctica. The Ocean Giant was preceded by the USCGC Polar Star who cut a resupply channel through more than 60 miles of Antarctic ice in the Ross Sea. This allowed for the annual delivery of operating supplies and fuel for two of the National Science Foundation’s three U.S. research stations in Antarctica. The supplies amounted to nearly 80 percent of the materials needed for the winter period. REGION: THE ARCTIC OPERATION DEEP FREEZE CASE STUDY SYNOPSIS In December 2017, U.S. flag vessel, M/V Ocean Giant departed Port Hueneme, California, loaded with a year’s worth of supplies to support multiple activities in Antarctica. En route, she called Lyttelton, New Zealand, for fuel and to load cargo to support New Zealand’s activities in Antarctica. While underway she proceeded into the polar waters of the Ross Sea and rendezvoused with the ice breaker Polar Star for the final 60 mile transit into McMurdo Station. The channel through the Ross Sea is only navigable for two weeks a year during the southern hemisphere summer. While in McMurdo, she discharged her cargo at one of the most isolated spots in the world to a pier made from ice. Once she completed her discharge she loaded back the previous year’s waste and debris, as well as scientific specimens which included ice core samples to be used by multiple universities and agencies for research. The ice core samples are critical for climate studies which could contain ice and trapped atmospheric gases more than 500,000-years-old. CHALLENGES No Port Infrastructure Critical Samples Limited Resources Special Fuel Requirements Ice Breaker Support Austere Environment No Outside Support Communications Below 60 South Special Fuel Requirements for Cold Discharged Cargo onto Ice Pier Temperature Weather Timing Ice USOCEAN.COM.

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