The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a cruise ship that was trapped in “pack ice” near Antarctica over the weekend. BREAKING THE ICE: The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a luxury cruise ship after it became trapped in the dense Antarctic ice. The Coast Guard noted that the vessel has executed a variety of missions over its five decades of service. “At 50 years old, Polar Star remains the world’s most capable non-nuclear icebreaker,” Commander Samuel Blase, the executive officer of the Polar Star, said. With years of service left to give, Polar Star will continue to guide the way in the high latitudes well into the future.”