Why US Desperately Needs NEW Icebreakers

Why the United States has only two icebreakers and Russia has 55, and why that is not a big deal, is #notwhatyouthink #nwyt

Music:
Aural Imprints - Frank Jonsson
Fractured Paintings - Trevor Kowalski
Alpha Code - Tellsonic
Floods - Frank Jonsson
Twostop - By Lotus
String Theory - Martin Klem
Reaching beyond the Clouds - Tellsonic
Sidelined - Dip Diet

Footage:
Christoffer Groop @ChristofferGroop
Dave Durkee @DaveDurkee
Shutterstock
Select images/videos from Getty Images
Russian Ministry of Defense
US Department of Defense

Note: "The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."

[NotWhatYouThink]

What are your thoughts? Is the Coast Guard staffing crisis a bigger issue or the delays on getting new icebreakers?

[germshroom]

my question is where is canada in this story. they have significantly more arctic coastline to take care of. Apparently they operate 21 icebreakers and as an ally of the US i wonder is maybe the US together with them could have some kind of joint arctic presence.

[thescotslair]

Polar Star: "please let me die"

US Coast Guard: "it's time for your annual antarctic trip honey"

[TurboAutist-sglo]

my friend worked on a HUGE icebreaker just one month ago. We are both swedish and it is a swedish military ice breaker from the 1960s. The ship is called YMER and its frickin epic.

[theodoreolson]

9:15 Hull cuts are a major engineering evolution but not unusual. Every nuclear submarine that goes through a reactor overhaul gets hull cuts and that steel is much tougher than the typical ship hull. This episode calls attention to the long history of under funding the US Coast Guard despite their critical mission.

[azstumbler]

When I was in the Coast Guard back in the 70s, while stationed on the Northwind we used to call the Star and the Sea building 10 and building 11. Simply because they were always in port for repairs. I see that much has not changed.

[ErnestImken]

Russia needs icebreakers. They have a number of Arctic ports. The US has only two ice ports in Alaska.

[TrojanManSCP]

Great video. I did the McMurdo trip way back in 2002.
Recruitment/retention is the biggest challenge of every service right now. Historically, a poor economy helps with that, but we're not seeing it currently for a lot of reasons.

[THE-X-Force]

This was incredibly interesting, and I learned a lot. Watching them pull out that chunk of the hull like a jigsaw piece (10:10) was absolutely insane. Thanks for the great video! ☮

[kevjtnbtmglr]

Hey guys, us here in Finland build top quality icebreakers.

[mohamedbaradji]

“How did the US lose the icebreaker race?”
Simple, they never had an interest in competing

[mtthyw]

I just had this discussion with my dad, E4, yesterday. Thanks for making this.

[AlexRepin]

On a side note, you can actually take a trip to the North Pole on a russian nuclear icebreaker. With helicopter excursions, zodiac boats and all that. It's pricey, though, as it starts from $25k per person.

[eherrmann]

I helped build USCGC Healy (WAGB 20). I worked in the shop that cut the hull plates and a lot of the structural steel.

[andrewpotapenkoff]

I live in Murmansk, Kola peninsula. North Trade Route starts here!
We have never freezing port - because of warm Gulf Stream.

[robertbehmer]

Learning something new while working, thanks NWYT!

[beverlychmelik]

We were never in a race. We just ignored the needs of the Coast Guard and the Artic sea lanes, as well as letting our ability to build ships degrade.

[justinfowler]

USA: We don't need more icebreakers. We have global warming on our side.

[dinsdalemontypiranha]

I'd have to say that they are both vital for the US.
Thanks again for another great video!
I was just thinking about Canada's need for ships in the Arctic yesterday, so this was a very timely video for me.

[henrycarlson]

So Wise, Thank You .. A fine example of the short sightedness of oir (u.. S. ) government