Arctic Circle in one season: . She was the first ship to break through into Thule, Greenland as early as 28 May 1952 although Thule is normally ice-locked until summer. During 1953 Northwind conducted a Bering Sea Patrol. During this patrol Northwind freed USS LST-1048 which was beset in the Beaufort Sea near Barter Island Alaska. USS LST-1048 was on a supply mission to support Distant Early Warning Line construction and was freed by ice-demolition. From 12 July to 29 September 1954 Northwind participated in the Canadian-U.S. Beaufort Sea Expedition. The mission was to perform an oceanographic and hydrographic surveys of the waters surrounding Banks Island. She was accompanied by and . This cruise was the first where vessels transited McClure Strait and circumnavigated Banks Island. The transit was completed on 4 September 1954. From February through April 1955 Northwind sailed on a Bering Sea scientific expedition in support of the U.S. Naval Hydrographic Office. During July through September 1955 Northwind supported Distant Early Warning Line operations. From November 1956 through April 1957 Northwind participated in Operation Deep Freeze II, in expeditions to Antarctica, providing clear passage for the cargo ships including USNS Private John Towle. On 20 January 1957 a small gathering of ship personnel, including Sir Edmund Hillary and Capt John Wiis, master of USNS Towle commemorated the opening of Scott's Base, Pram Point Antarctica. The expedition vessels were all part of Task Force 43, in the Antarctic. Northwind Glacier in Victoria Land was named after her. Northwind sailed again with U.S. Navy Task Force 43 on Operation Deep Freeze IV from December 1958 through February 1959. Northwind sailed to Wilkes Station in support of the U.S. National Committee and National Academy of Sciences during the International Geophysical Year 1957 to 1958. 1960s In 1961 Northwind sailed on Bering Sea Patrol for Arctic West Summer operations. From 5 through 25 July 1962 and 6 through 19 September 1962, Northwind conducted oceanographic experiments in the Chukchi Sea in cooperation with universities of the Pacific Northwest. From 2 through 26 October 1962, she conducted more oceanographic experiments in East Siberian Sea and Arctic Ocean. From 7 August to 18 September 1963, she conducted oceanographic experiments in the Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, and Laptev Sea seas in cooperation with the University of Southern California, and was awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device. From July to October