Nathaniel B. Palmer at McMurdo

The Nathaniel B. Palmer is an icebreaker operated by the U.S. Antarctic Program. It is a 94m (308ft) long research ship that is used to break through the ice if necessary to McMurdo at the start of the summer season and deliver supplies, it is also used as a floating research platform in-between relief visits.

The ship is named after the 21 year old Nathaniel B. Palmer the first American credited with sighting Antarctica in 1820 aboard the 14m sloop Hero