A life ring is mounted on a rail aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy while transiting through ice floe in the Arctic Ocean during its annual Arctic patrol in support of scientific research and Polar exploration, July 31, 2107. The Coast Guard’s leadership role in providing a continued Arctic presence is essential to national security, maritime domain awareness, freedom of navigation, U.S. sovereign interests and scientific research. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Rachel Polish