[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 28, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S9533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. Lieberman):
  S. 1450. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to 
convey a National Defense Reserve Fleet vessel to the Glacier Society, 
Inc., of Bridgeport, Connecticut; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.


                     CONVEYANCE OF THE SHIP GLACIER

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that would save a historic vessel from the scrap heap. The Glacier, a 
310 foot, 8,600 ton icebreaker was commissioned as a vessel of the U.S. 
Navy in 1955. It made 39 trips to the North and South poles; made the 
deepest penetration of the Antarctic by sea in 1961; rescued explorer 
Sir Vivan Fuchs; and was the largest icebreaker of its time. Currently, 
the Glacier is part of the reserve fleet awaiting disposition as scrap 
or transfer to the Glacier Society, a group dedicated to restoring the 
Glacier.
  This bill would simply convey the Glacier from the reserve fleet to 
the Glacier Society. The Society is mainly composed of active and 
retired servicemen who served aboard the Glacier and is headed by Ben 
Koether, one of the ship's former navigators. The group envisions that 
the Glacier will operate as a museum and scientific laboratory. Both in 
port and underway, the Glacier Society hopes to provide hands-on 
training to children and adults while teaching the history of Polar 
exploration.
  By passing the title of the Glacier to the Glacier Society, Congress 
will save taxpayers roughly $200,000 per year, enable the development 
of unique educational opportunities, contribute to the nation's 
maritime heritage and preserve a piece of history. I look forward to 
the day when the Glacier Society's vision for the Glacier is achieved. 
Passage of this bill would be the first step towards realization of 
that vision.
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