United States Military Sealift Tanker
The tanker Lawrence H. Gianella docked at the McMurdo Station ice pier. (NSF photo by Robyn Waserman.)
Each year an ice-strengthened tanker delivers approximately 19,000,000 liters (5,000,000 gallons) of fuel to McMurdo Station. It is operated under contract to the Military Sealift Command.
Three types of fuel are used:
- AN8, a special fuel blend used in the Arctic and Antarctic, has a low flash point which lowers the point at which wax crystals form when exposed to exteme cold.
- Mogas, an unleaded motor fuel with additives, is used by the military.
- JP5, another special fuel blend, is used in the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker.
The tanker Maersk Peary (left) approaches the McMurdo Station ice pier, escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Star in January 2014. (NSF photo by Peter Rejcek)