The US Coast Guard's newest icebreaker, Storis, has completed its first Arctic patrol along Russia's maritime boundary, conducting surveillance and joint operations, reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.
Commissioned in August, Storis joined icebreaker Healy and cutter Alex Haley near Dutch Harbor before tracing nearly 1,000 nautical miles of Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone through the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea.
The patrol included monitoring the Chinese research vessel Jidi off Alaska's Point Hope, according to AIS data. Healy also queried Chinese ships operating in the Extended Continental Shelf north of Alaska.
Troy Bouffard of the University of Alaska Fairbanks said the deployment filled a critical gap in US Arctic operations, reinforcing sovereignty and navigation rights near Russia's EEZ.
The Bering Strait, a strategic gateway to the Arctic and terminus of Russia's Northern Sea Route, has seen increased traffic from Russian and Chinese commercial and military vessels.
US and Canadian forces, including USCGC Waesche and HMCS Regina, held live-fire exercises and joint Arctic defence drills under Operation Latitude in late August.
Bouffard said the Storis will improve fisheries enforcement, deter illegal activity, support search-and-rescue and environmental response, and enhance domain awareness in the region.
Rear Admiral Bob Little said the patrol highlights the need for more ice-capable vessels to secure the northern US border and maritime approaches, noting Healy's role in Arctic presence.
SeaNews Turkey
Commissioned in August, Storis joined icebreaker Healy and cutter Alex Haley near Dutch Harbor before tracing nearly 1,000 nautical miles of Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone through the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea.
The patrol included monitoring the Chinese research vessel Jidi off Alaska's Point Hope, according to AIS data. Healy also queried Chinese ships operating in the Extended Continental Shelf north of Alaska.
Troy Bouffard of the University of Alaska Fairbanks said the deployment filled a critical gap in US Arctic operations, reinforcing sovereignty and navigation rights near Russia's EEZ.
The Bering Strait, a strategic gateway to the Arctic and terminus of Russia's Northern Sea Route, has seen increased traffic from Russian and Chinese commercial and military vessels.
US and Canadian forces, including USCGC Waesche and HMCS Regina, held live-fire exercises and joint Arctic defence drills under Operation Latitude in late August.
Bouffard said the Storis will improve fisheries enforcement, deter illegal activity, support search-and-rescue and environmental response, and enhance domain awareness in the region.
Rear Admiral Bob Little said the patrol highlights the need for more ice-capable vessels to secure the northern US border and maritime approaches, noting Healy's role in Arctic presence.
SeaNews Turkey
