‘Fair winds, following seas, and thin ice’
Healy is commissioned, transits Northwest Passage By: Ed Winter, Litton Avondale Industries USCGC HEALY, the one-of-a-kind icebreaker and research ship Avondale delivered to the Coast Guard last November, has had a busy and gratifying nine months in service, culminating with the ship’s commissioning August 21 in Seattle, WA.
Having logged some 26,000 serpentine miles (see accompanying map) since departing Avondale last January, HEALY’s nearly seven-month sojourn at sea has taken her from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, up the Atlantic seaboard to Nova Scotia, and across the North Atlantic to Ireland and Iceland. While on this long and rigorous shakedown cruise, HEALY underwent extensive Ice Trials and Science Trials in the Eastern Arctic between Canada and Greenland before embarking on an historic transit of the famed Northwest Passage, where the ship’s capabilities were really put to the test.
Andy Jurjans, Acting Program Manager for NAVSEA’s PMS 373, which oversees the Icebreaker project, accompanied Sprague on the same leg of HEALY’s journey, and he agreed that the ship performed exceptionally. "I’ve been involved with this program since the very beginning in 1992, and am pleased to have been a part of it all, particularly, to see and experience the end result," said Jurjans, who also attended the commissioning ceremony. "All the automation has made this a very sophisticated ship, very capable, absolutely comfortable, and with a very smooth open-ocean ride. Avondale did an excellent job with the design and construction of this vessel."
HEALY’s powerful diesel electric, AC/AC Cycloconverter propulsion system also aids the ship tremendously in breaking through the thick ice. Its four Sulzur medium-speed diesel generators drive two 15,000 HP motors, which are cycloconverter-controlled to allow maximum torque at low RPM. This arrangement allows HEALY to continuously break ice up to 4 –1/2 feet thick at a minimum of three knots. Some of the scientific studies conducted by this floating lab included the use of Doppler radar and mapping sonar to make images of the ocean floor, where HEALY found previously unknown structures and contours -- valuable information for future mapmaking. The ship was also successful in taking samples of the ocean floor by dredging and coring, in taking water samples at different depths, and temperature readings of ice conditions.
"Avondale is very proud to have worked so well with the Navy and Coast Guard to produce this fine vessel," McAlear said, after the commissioning. "We have produced a unique, complex, world-class ship that has exceeded expectations, and we look forward to working with the Coast Guard again in the future on their fleet replacement program."
Many of the distinguished speakers on hand sang the praises of "this remarkable new icebreaking ship and research vessel." Admiral James M. Loy, Commandant, U. S. Coast Guard, noted that HEALY’s reduced manning concepts and integrated ship systems make her the forerunner of the Coast Guard Deepwater fleet. (Typically, a ship the size and complexity of HEALY would require a crew of 120, while HEALY’s crew is only 67, with accommodations for an additional 35 scientists.) Another speaker suggested that he had seen the future of the Coast Guard and it was HEALY. Such commentary was good news to Avondale and very encouraging as it is one of three industry teams competing for the important Coast Guard Deepwater contract.
According to Sprague, the overall theme of the remarks was HEALY’s world-class capabilities as an icebreaker and as a scientific platform that will aid considerably in Arctic research. "There were a lot of nice things said about the ship," Sprague added.
Rear Admiral Terry M. Cross, Assistant Commandant for Operations, USCG, also sent a commissioning message to HEALY: "I extend my heartiest congratulation to the officers and crew for your exemplary performance in bringing this unique cutter into the Coast Guard fleet," said RADM Cross. "The capabilities designed into HEALY have been fully met or exceeded, demonstrating that the Coast Guard’s newest, largest, and most complex ship is truly a world-class, high-latitude research vessel. HEALY has set a standard of excellence that will inspire those who follow for years to come. The benefits to the nation from the research made possible by HEALY will likewise reverberate for many decades. I wish you continued success as you prepare for post shakedown availability and your initial science cruise next spring."
"I’m proud to have worked on this unique ship program," added Sprague, "as I’m sure everyone else is who worked on the Icebreaker at Avondale. I will watch her future missions with keen interest and a deep sense of personal accomplishment. I believe all Avondale workers will join me in wishing her well. We should echo the final toast at HEALY’s commissioning ceremony: ‘Fair winds, following seas, and thin ice.’"
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The shakedown exercises proved HEALY’s mettle, in both icebreaking capabilities and as a scientific research platform, as the ship performed flawlessly in the most demanding environments and sea conditions. "HEALY’s icebreaking capabilities exceeded all expectations," said Chris Sprague, Avondale Program Manager for HEALY, who joined the ship at Nuuk, Greenland, and sailed with her for a portion of the Science Trials. "The scientists are delighted with the state-of-the-art scientific equipment she carries, and the way it all performed so well." 
Sprague also noted that Captain Jeff Garrett, HEALY’s skipper, reported that the ship has broken through 4-and-1/2 feet of ice at 4.6 knots and broken through 11 feet of ice, backing and ramming. The 420-foot-long HEALY used all of its 16,500 tons in tandem with its 1-and-1/2-inch-thick, steel-reinforced specialized hull design to ride up on thick sheets of ice and then crash down, crushing them with its weight. At one point, HEALY bashed through an ice ridge 25 feet thick that got in its way! 
Sprague said the recent commissioning ceremony in Seattle took place on the HEALY’s flight deck on a perfectly sunny day with the snow-capped Olympic Mountains forming a backdrop over Puget Sound. In addition to Sprague, Avondale was represented at the commissioning by Ron McAlear, Vice President of Operations, Bobby Joe Griffin, Director, Engineering Project Administration, and Jim Mackay, Warranty Engineer. 
Other commissioning speakers were: Vice Admiral Ray Riutta, Commander, USCG, Pacific Area; U. S. Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska; and the ship’s sponsor, Mrs. Catherine Stevens. Additional remarks were also delivered by several distinguished members of the scientific community, including Dr. Thomas Pyle of the National Science Foundation and Mr. George Newton, Jr., Chairman of the U. S. Arctic Research Commission. 