Polar presence depends on ships that can work in ice for extended periods. The Coast Guard had only one currently available Polar-class icebreaker, while Healy was already about 25 years old at recording. Aircraft can locate ice, but a ship is needed for close tracking, towing, or other sustained work on scene. With a third vessel serving as a source of spares, fleet age and availability become strategic constraints.
Chapter · 30:31-35:27
Icebreakers are Arctic infrastructure
The aging Polar-class fleet and Healy show that polar presence requires specialised ships able to do sustained work in ice.