Sea Bird cargo ship arrives, 30-day port season begins

Port season begins

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- The Sea Bird cargo ship docks in the world's northernmost deepwater port here June 30. In less than 12 hours, the Sea Bird’s 107 cargo containers and flat racks were offloaded and over 1,270 metric tons of cargo was processed. The arrival of the ship marked the formal opening of the 30-day Arctic port season. (U.S. Air Force photo/Col. Lee-Volker Cox)

Unloading cargo at northernmost deepwater port

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- After docking in the world's northernmost deepwater port here June 30, containers are quickly off loaded the Sea Bird cargo ship. In less than 12 hours, the Sea Bird’s 107 cargo containers and flat racks were offloaded and over 1,270 metric tons of cargo was processed. The arrival of the ship marked the formal opening of the 30-day Arctic port season. (U.S. Air Force photo/Col. Lee-Volker Cox)

Cargo ship arrives at Thule AB

Published July 7, 2008
821st Air Base Group Public Affairs

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- After navigating through fields of icebergs, the Sea Bird emerged from fog at Thule Air Base, Greenland, home of the world's northernmost deepwater port more than 700 miles inside the Arctic Circle. The ship's June 30 arrival formally opened the 30-day Arctic port season. Within two hours, steavadors and port operators began off loading cargo containers filled with vital construction supplies, vehicles and dry goods.

"It's exciting to see the pier spring to life when the first ship arrives at the Top of the World. When you're as far north as we are, the only way to get critical supplies to the base is either by aircraft or cargo ships," said Col. Lee-Volker Cox, Thule Air Base commander. "Sealift enables us to receive mission-impacting cargo, supplies and equipment at a much lower cost than airlift."

In less than 12 hours, the Sea Bird's 107 cargo containers and flat racks were offloaded. Over 1,270 metric tons of cargo were also processed. Shortly thereafter, the ship was steaming back into iceberg-filled Arctic waters.

The harbor and bay are ice free for only two to three months each year. Therefore, the base must rapidly process the cargo it receives. In 2007, ships made 11 port calls at this extreme northern port. Over 7,000 tons of cargo and 9 million gallons of fuel were processed, ensuring the base was fully stocked for the winter and ready to begin construction projects.

"The port is instrumental to ensuring continued success of our space superiority missions during our long, harsh Arctic winter. We have 30 days to offload at least five cargo ships and two tankers with more than 15 million gallons of fuel. Without these essential supplies, Thule Air Base's existence is jeopardized."