Multi-media Release: Admiral Thad Allen announces reactivation of Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star

SEATTLE - Adm. Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, addresses the media aboard the Polar Class Icebreaker Polar Star, homported here, during the Polar Star's reactivation March 10, 2010. Allen referenced the Coast Guard's role as the nation's principal federal maritime enforcement agency in the Arctic. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Colin White.

SEATTLE - Adm. Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, addresses the media aboard the Polar Class Icebreaker Polar Star, homeported here, as Lt. Cmdr. Jack W. Jackson the icebreaker's Commanding Officer observes during the Polar Star's reactivation March 10, 2010. Allen referenced the Coast Guard's role as the nation's principal federal maritime enforcement agency in the Arctic. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Colin White.

SEATTLE- Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard addresses the crew of the Coast Guard polar icebreaker, Polar Star, one of the nation's two Polar Class icebreakers, at Pier 36 here Wednesday afternoon. Allen discussed such topics as the reactivation process of the Polar Star and the importance of Coast Guard and scientific Arctic ice operations. The primary missions of the Coast Guard's icebreakers is to provide scientific and logistical support to various U.S. interests in both polar regions. Both Polar Star and Polar Sea have been significant contributors to the program which is led by the National Science Foundation. Official U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford.

SEATTLE- Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard addresses the crew of the Coast Guard polar icebreaker, Polar Star, one of the nation's two Polar Class icebreakers, at Pier 36 here Wednesday afternoon. Allen discussed such topics as the reactivation process of the Polar Star and the importance of Coast Guard and scientific Arctic ice operations. The primary missions of the Coast Guard's icebreakers is to provide scientific and logistical support to various U.S. interests in both polar regions. Both Polar Star and Polar Sea have been significant contributors to the program which is led by the National Science Foundation. Official U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford.

SEATTLE- Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard addresses the crew of the Coast Guard polar icebreaker, Polar Star, one of the nation's two Polar Class icebreakers, at Pier 36 here Wednesday afternoon. Allen discussed such topics as the reactivation process of the Polar Star and the importance of Coast Guard and scientific Arctic ice operations. The primary missions of the Coast Guard's icebreakers is to provide scientific and logistical support to various U.S. interests in both polar regions. Both Polar Star and Polar Sea have been significant contributors to the program which is led by the National Science Foundation. Official U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford.

SEATTLE - Adm. Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, addresses the media aboard the Polar Class Icebreaker Polar Star, homeported here, as Lt. Cmdr. Jack W. Johnson the icebreaker's Commanding Officer observes during the Polar Star's reactivation March 10, 2010. Allen referenced the Coast Guard's role as the nation's principal federal maritime enforcement agency in the Arctic. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

SEATTLE - The Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Thad Allen, announced the reactivation of the Cutter Polar Star, one of the nation's two Polar Class icebreakers Wednesday.

"The immediate salutary effect in this region will be 250 new jobs and the knowledge that the Coast Guard will be taking a ship that has not been used in a long time and putting it back into service," said Allen.

The Coast Guard is the principal federal maritime enforcement agency in the Arctic with broad safety, security and stewardship missions.The scope of Coast Guard operations in the Arctic is expanding.

The Coast Guard is the only federal  agency currently operating surface vessels, two powerful icebreakers, capable of asserting a U.S. sovereign presence in Arctic ice covered waters.