Overview
- The U.S. Coast Guard said Scenic Eclipse II contacted cutter Polar Star around 11 p.m. local time on Jan. 17 after becoming beset in pack ice about eight nautical miles from McMurdo Sound.
- Polar Star made two close passes to loosen the ice and then escorted the cruise ship roughly four nautical miles to open water, according to the Coast Guard’s Jan. 23 release.
- Scenic Group said the vessel was never in need of rescue and requested assistance to clear shifting pack ice and avoid a prolonged transit at reduced speed.
- Passengers watched from the observation deck with champagne as the operation unfolded, and the ship’s schedule returned to normal the following day.
- The assist came as Polar Star marked its 50th commissioning anniversary while en route to Operation Deep Freeze 2026 as the United States’ only active heavy icebreaker.