Coast Guard Cutter Returning To Washington After Fire Aboard Ship

SEATTLE — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy is headed back to its home port of Seattle after one of the ship's motors caught fire.

The ship had been about 60 miles off the coast from Seward, Alaska and headed to an operation in the arctic when an electrical fire sparked up in one of the main propulsion motors. The cause of the fire is unknown and there have been no reported injuries, but a fire team had to disconnect the motor to put the blaze out.

The Coast Guard says that, because of the fire, the ship's starboard propulsion motor and its propeller shaft are both out of commission, so they've turned the ship around and are heading to Seattle for inspection and repairs.

The Healy is one of just two ice breakers in U.S. service, and the only military ship dedicated to research in the Arctic. On August 18, it had embarked from Seward with a team of scientists for a mission of both national security and scientific inquiry in the Arctic. The ship's return to Seattle means that all current operations in the Arctic have been cancelled.

"I commend the crew of the Healy for their quick actions to safely combat the fire," said Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, the Pacific Area commander. "This casualty, however, means that the United States is limited in icebreaking capability until the Healy can be repaired, and it highlights the nation’s critical need for Polar Security Cutters."

The Navy and Coast Guard have commissioned the construction of a second cutter, scheduled to begin early next year and estimated to be delivered by the year 2024.