USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) provides support to an Australian-owned cruise ship stuck in ice on cutter’s 50th birthday amid Operation Deep Freeze 2026 [Image 6 of 12]

ANTARCTICA

01.17.2026

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Bokum 

U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) begins escorting an Australian-owned cruise ship out of the ice-covered Ross Sea after the vessel requested assistance amid Operation Deep Freeze 2026, Jan. 17, 2026. Pacific Air Forces operates on a 24-hour basis to provide the U.S. National Science Foundation complete joint operational and logistic support for Operation Deep Freeze. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Bokum)

• Date Taken: 01.17.2026
• Date Posted: 01.22.2026 16:51
• Photo ID: 9485708
• VIRIN: 260117-G-FN033-1006
• Resolution: 8256x5504
• Size: 9.09 MB
• Location: AQ