Repairing US Massive $800 Million IceBreaker to Save it From Scrap

YouTube / The Daily Aviation

A Lot Of Welding

The US Coast Guard’s largest and most technologically advanced icebreaker, USCGC Healy, suffered a motor fire during a mission in the Arctic. The 420ft-long icebreaker was then sent to dry dock in California for a lengthy repair. 

To start the process, a large section of the hull had to be removed to access the damaged starboard main propulsion motor. Afterward, a 100-ton motor that’s been inactive for 23 years was swapped into the old engine. 

In total, the crew took almost three months to finish the repairs – though a huge chunk of that came from waiting for the new engine, taking two months to arrive.

With the repairs done and the systems tested, Healy and her crew are once again back in action. Most recently, Healy reached the North Pole for the fourth time and assisted scientists as part of the Synoptic Arctic Survey Program.