During February 1973 "Staten Island" participated in the Bering Sea Experiment as part of her Arctic West Winter activities, north of Adak Island, with the Soviet research vessel "Priboy", and several aircraft. From 7 March through 3 April 1973, she was attached to Task Unit 57.0 of the Pacific Fleet during SUBICEX 1-73. Completing her SUBICEX assignments she sailed south and while leaving the frozen sections of the Bering Sea she took heavy swells over her bow including large chunks of ice that damaged her superstructure. On 4 April 1973 her starboard main electric drive motor caught fire. With that motor out of commission her port motor remained in service as she limped into Kodiak, Alaska and finally onto Seattle arriving 12 April 1973. "Staten Island" was drydocked for repairs the remainder of that summer.