MSC’s MV Ocean Giant Triumphs in Critical Cargo Mission for Operation Deep Freeze 2025

On January 26, the Ocean Giant made a significant delivery at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The shipment included a floating marine causeway system alongside 380 cargo pieces. Among the cargo were mechanical parts, vehicles, construction materials, office supplies, electronics, and mobile office units. These supplies are vital for sustaining operations at the station throughout the upcoming year.

After completing the delivery, the Ocean Giant loaded 360 containers of retrograde cargo. This included trash, recyclable materials for disposal, and equipment no longer necessary for the station’s operations.

The MSC chartered vessel, MV Ocean Gladiator, is expected at McMurdo Station later this week. Its mission will involve offloading cargo and retrieving the previously delivered causeway.

These operations are part of Operation Deep Freeze, a collaborative initiative providing defense support to civilian authorities. It supports the National Science Foundation, the leading agency for the U.S. Antarctic Program. This mission engages personnel from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard, along with both Department of Defense and non-DOD civilians. Operating from Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station, this mission has seen annual voyages since 1955, marking over six decades of essential service to Antarctica’s scientific endeavors.