Image Credits: USCG The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy suffered a significant engineering casualty during post-refit sea trials off the Washington coast. No injuries were reported after the incident, which occurred while the 420-foot cutter was operating northwest of Port Angeles. On July 13, tugboats safely towed Healy back to its homeport in Seattle after the casualty interrupted the trials, the Coast Guard said. “The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Healy acted with speed and skill in responding to this casualty,” Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lunday said in a statement. Lunday said the incident highlights the need to expand the United States’ icebreaker fleet as the Coast Guard continues its Arctic missions. “While the Coast Guard remains underway and on mission in the Arctic, this casualty underscores the vital importance of President Trump’s vision to rapidly build and deliver a modern icebreaker fleet,” he said. “The United States is an Arctic nation with enduring security, economic, and strategic interests in the region. The Nation needs a highly capable icebreaking fleet operated by the Coast Guard to ensure year-round access to the region to protect our northern border in Alaska and maritime approaches in the Arctic.” The Coast Guard has not disclosed the cause of the engineering casualty or the extent of the damage. Per sources, the casualty involved a crankcase explosion in one of Healy’s engines during sea trials following its recent shipyard period. The source said the affected engine room was taken offline and a tug was sent as a precaution. The Coast Guard has not confirmed those details. Publicly available Automatic Identification System (AIS) data showed Healy conducting high-speed sea trials west of Port Angeles, reaching speeds of more than 20 knots before slowing to about 2 knots and stopping. Video from a publicly accessible webcam later showed the Foss Maritime tug Marshall Foss towi