since 2006. Current Operations On Christmas day 2020, Polar Star reached 72 degrees 11 minutes north, the farthest north any US government surface vessel has reached in the winter. The Arctic West Winter mission included travel in heavy ice in total darkness and joint exercises with Russian aircraft at the US Russian maritime boundary in the Bering Sea. During the deployment Polar Star made port calls in Dutch Harbor Alaska and Juneau Alaska. Over the course of its service life, Polar Star steamed in all five oceans, made calls in more than 60 ports across six continents; circumnavigated North America, South America, and Antarctica (likely the first such circumnavigation since 1843 as well as the first to do so completely poleward of 60o); rounded Cape Horn, transited the North West Passage, and circumnavigated Earth. Operational highlights include assisting with waterside security during the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, completing the first solo breakout of McMurdo Sound (Operation Deep Freeze 1988), seven consecutive Operation Deep Freeze missions between 2014 and 2020, as well as reaching 72 degrees 11 minutes north (the farthest north any US government surface vessel reached in the winter). Since her commissioning on January 17, 1976, Polar Star'''s 24 deployments in support of Operation Deep Freeze are second only to USCGC Glacier (WAGB-4) and her 29 Deep Freeze missions. On 15 Dec 2021 the Vessel has been seen berthed in Wellington, New Zealand - likely in preparation for the southern summer season. On 08 Aug 2022, the Vessel was seen moored at Pier 30 in San Francisco, CA. References U.S. Department of Homeland Security. United States Coast Guard Historian's Office Bibliography External links Arctic Exploration Online Polar-class icebreakers 1976 ships Ships built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company