CIMSEC has a post by two active-duty Coast Guard Officers suggesting greater engagement between the US Coast Guard and Navy with their Latin American counter parts in regard to operations in Polar Regions.

They also mention a new Colombian Coast Guard Arctic Research Vessel, ARC ‘Simon Bolivar (PO-151). Thought you might be interested in some specifications. More details here.

• Displacement of 3,250 tons
• Length: 83 meters (272′)
• Beam: 16 meters (52.5′)
• Max Speed: 13 knots

(The designation, PO, indicates Patrol Offshore and is shared with the former USCG Reliance, a WMEC210, as well as at least four other ships, two as small as 131 tons. Colombian Navy OPVs are designated PZE. PZE or PZEE (Spanish: Patrullero de Zona Economica Exclusiva), Exclusive Economic Zone patrol boat) Amazingly logical.

None of the Latin American ships in the post mentioned are as capable as the Polar Star or the planned Polar Security Cutter. They probably will never go as far South as Polar Star will go as it makes its way to McMurdo, but this does clearly illustrate that smaller, cheaper, ships that are not as difficult to build, can do useful work in the Polar regions.

Ceremony as the first Colombian research vessel ‘ARC Simon Bolivar’ departs for Antarctica.Credit: Juan Cano/Presidency of Colombia