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U.S. Coast Guard Seventeenth District

Coast Guard Cutter Healy Journal Entry

Journal Entry - September 26, 2008 - Arctic

Working with the Canadians, Eh.

Working in the U.S. Coast Guard inevitably leads to working with Coast Guard and Navy sailors from other nations.  For icebreaker sailors, working with our neighbors to the east (of Alaska) is not only inevitable, but invariably a joy. 

OK, I'm probably biased.  After a 23-year career that includes socially-enlightened port calls at St. John's, Halifax, Toronto, Windsor, Owen Sound, Sault Ste Marie, Victoria, and Vancouver among others, I am predisposed to enjoy working with the Canadian Coast Guard.

The U.S. and Canadian coast guards have a long history of cooperation.  On the Great Lakes, the buoy tending and icebreaking duties are divided up based upon logical geography, rather than national boundaries.  U.S. icebreakers escort Canadian ships, and Canadian icebreaker escort U.S. ships.  In the Arctic, the Canadian Coast Guard conducts the icebreaking for resupply of Thule Air Force Base, Greenland.  In return, the U.S. provides icebreaker support for Canadian missions in the Western Arctic.  Together, we use our combined resources much more efficiently and effectively.  Ship transits are significantly reduced, putting the icebreakers of both nations on-station longer.

This cooperation also extends to the Canadian Ice Service, U.S. National Ice Center, and the International Ice Patrol, operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.  By combining resources, we save both countries millions of dollars.

For this voyage, we are privileged to have CAPT Jon Stewart of the Canadian Coast Guard sailing with us.  He is the Captain of the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Giffon, which generally operates on the Great Lakes.  Captain Stewart is our liaison to the Louis S. St-Laurent, an expert in heavy icebreaking, and our travel guide in the Canadian Arctic.  He also has the energy of a man half his age, and is constantly poking around every corner of Healy, chatting up the crew, and learning about how we operate.  He's originally from British Columbia, and provided me piloting tips for the Canadian waters of the Inside Passage.

Beyond the federal-level cooperation involved in this mission, we enjoy tremendous day-to-day teamwork with Louis S. St-Laurent.  CAPT Marc Rothwell of "The Louis" has been an exceptional host and colleague.  Through the generous sharing of his embarked helicopter, the two ships have exchanged about 4 dozen crew members over the past 3 weeks.  These exchanges build camaraderie, and make both services' better as we learn from one another.   You may also recall from my last Journal entry, that we are breaking ice in tandem to sail in ice conditions neither ship could handle alone.

We'll be operating with "The Louis" for another day or so before we bid our friends farewell and head toward home.  Last evening, we rafted the ship's together for an Arctic Luau, held in the hangar of "The Louis."  We shared a great evening of steaks, sea food, and sea stories.  Some of  the crew embraced the "Hawaii Night" theme with particular zeal, having fashioned "grass skirts" for the occasion.  The night was punctuated with a vigorous barter economy which left both ship's stores with empty shelves. Great stuff.  The sailor brother/sister hood is universal.

For the crew of HEALY, the joint operation with our friends of "The Louis" was the highlight of our summer.  For all the fun and excitement we make of our Arctic adventures, it was a real treat to see anybody else, to work with a great partner ship and crew, and to know we were serving both countries so well.  

Fair winds and open leads,

Captain Fred Sommer

Commanding Officer, USCGC HEALY

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