What you’re seeing at sea: USCG Cutter Healy off Alki Point

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(Added: Photo by Gary Jones)
1:48 PM: From the “in case you wondered, too” files: Thanks to the tipster who texted (206-293-6302 any time) that the 420-foot US Coast Guard Cutter Healy is off Alki Point right now. Our tipster also points out that the Seattle-based Healy has a big mission ahead in late summer, headed for the North Pole to study the chemistry of Arctic waters. (P.S. Thanks in advance if you have a photo to share – we can’t get down to the water right now!)

2:20 PM: Thanks to Gary Jones for the photo we’ve added atop this story – which, as you’ll see, includes other vessels in what he says appears to be a ceremony. We’re checking! (USCGC Healy did have a change of command earlier this month, for starters …)

4:20 PM: Might be related. Eve says she inquired at the lighthouse after noticing party preparations there and was told it was for a retiring captain.

Ex-Westwood Resident June 13, 2015 (5:32 pm)

FYI – Not to be picky, but the Healy isn’t a cutter, it’s an Ice Breaker.

WSB June 13, 2015 (5:57 pm)

Its official name is USCG Cutter Healy. Our first reference to its name has been linked to this page of the Coast Guard website since we published the story: http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcHealy/

Ray June 13, 2015 (6:24 pm)

Ex-Westwood Resident,

The Healy IS a cutter, by definition:
“Cutter” is basically any CG vessel 65 feet in length or greater, having adequate accommodations for crew to live on board. Larger cutters (over 179 feet in length) are under control of Area Commands (Atlantic Area or Pacific Area). Cutters at or under 175 feet in length come under control of District Commands. Cutters, usually have a motor surf boat and/or a rigid hull inflatable boat on board. Polar Class icebreakers also carry an Arctic Survey Boat (ASB) and Landing Craft.

The Healy is a cutter, but specifically it is an icebreaker.

http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/
There is a link to the Healy on this as well.

Rick June 14, 2015 (9:00 am)

Still learnin’ new things every day.

Bill Schrier June 14, 2015 (9:01 am)

The Healy was just in the Antarctic on a mission, and then was in San Francisco for refitting. Just got back from there to homeport here in Seattle. Glad to have them back in town. Didn’t know about the next mission to the Arctic, but they usually take scientists along for that. We need more icebreakers in the fleet.
-bill

Ex-Westwood Resident June 14, 2015 (9:41 am)

TR – Didn’t know that. Learn something new every day reading the blog.
Thanks!!!

sk June 17, 2015 (11:28 am)

Bill Schrier – sorry, you’re thinking of the Polar Star, our only working heavy icebreaker. Healy’s a medium. Both Healy and Star are homeported in Seattle.

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