US EditionUS Coast Guard Rescues Cruise Ship Trapped in Antarctic Ice
The USCGC Polar Star, celebrating 50 years of service, freed and escorted the Scenic Eclipse II after it became trapped in Antarctic pack ice during icebreaking operations.
- On January 17, USCGC Polar Star freed and escorted the Australian-owned Scenic Eclipse II from Antarctic pack ice during Operation Deep Freeze 2026.
- Scenic Eclipse II became beset in pack ice roughly eight nautical miles from McMurdo Sound and contacted Polar Star at approximately 11 pm Friday.
- Polar Star's crew conducted two close passes to crack Scenic Eclipse II free, then escorted it approximately four nautical miles to open water as passengers aboard watched, with photos credited to O2C Christopher Bokum, USCG via SWNS.
- Images and footage showed dramatic scenes of Scenic Eclipse II being cracked free, highlighting USCGC Polar Star’s transit and the U.S. Coast Guard presence in the Southern Ocean.
- Marking its 50th year on January 17, 2026, Polar Star continued Antarctic support missions as Samuel Blase said `At 50 years old, Polar Star remains the world’s most capable non-nuclear icebreaker.
48 Articles
48 Articles
Cruise ship is freed by US Cutter after getting stuck in Antarctic ice
A cruise ship that became lodged in the ice during a voyage to Antarctica was freed by the US Coast Guard. On 17 January, the Cutter Polar Star responded the distress calls from the Scenic Eclipse II after the luxury ship became stuck in pack ice whilst sailing through the Ross Sea. Footage shows the vessel tearing through a sea of ice as it makes its way towards the stranded ship. The Polar Star then circled the cruise, “conducting two close pa…
A luxury cruiser with about 200 passengers was immobilized in a dense layer of sea ice in Antarctica and rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard over the weekend, in an operation carried out in the Ross Sea, one of the most remote areas of the planet.The Australian-flagged Scenic Eclipse II was sailing through that sector when it was trapped on Friday, around 11 p.m. local time, according to U.S. authorities. The situation forced to request specialized …
ABC FOX Montana
Moment stricken cruise ship cracked free from ice in Antarctica
Passengers from Australian-owned cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II looked on as a US coast guard boat conducted two close passes to break the vessel free.
Emergency call from the pack ice. The cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II is stuck in Antarctica and gets help from an old US breaker.
The luxury cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II is stuck in Antarctica. The icebreaker USCGC "Polar Star" happened to be in the region as well.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
