Capt. Joseph F. Smith interview, 1983 | WorldCat.org (original) (raw)

Summary:Interview of Capt. Joseph F. Smith, USCG, commanding officer aboard USCGC Polar Star. Includes Smith's descriptions of the historic cruise made between 19 Oct. 1982 and 2 May 1983 in which the Polar Star became the first Coast Guard icebreaker, and perhaps the first U.S. ship, to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent south of the 60-degree parallel. Includes descriptions of the primary task which was to deliver a four-person U.S. State Dept. team to ten foreign research stations to inspect and ensure adherence to the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, and other tasks such as transferring 120,000 gallons of fuel and 350 tons of scientific equipment to Palmer Station (one of three U.S. research stations in Antarctica). Another significant event, at the time, was the penetration of the Polar Star to the furthest point south in the Weddell Sea that a U.S. flag vessel had even been