By JULIA BERGMAN | The Day, New London, Conn. | Published: March 5, 2021 NEW LONDON, Conn. (Tribune News Service) — The first trip in nearly 40 years by the Coast Guard cutter Polar Star, the nation's only heavy icebreaker, to the winter Arctic is the latest sign that the Coast Guard intends to have a greater presence in that region in the years to come. The ship's commanding officer, in an interview following this winter's mission, said the 12-week deployment to the Bering Strait region helped the crew "better understand and prepare for the challenges of operating in such an unforgiving environment." A group of Coast Guard Academy cadets will soon be a part of those efforts.