"Staten Island" departed Seattle 31 October 1973 for San Diego where her crew received refresher training between 5 and 16 November 1973, at which time she departed to escort ships in "Operation Deep Freeze 1974". "Staten Island" helped rescue the "USNS Maumee" when her rudder became damaged in the heavy ice at McMurdo. The "Staten Island" crew freed the rudder from its jammed position at 90 degrees and fixed the rudder with a rudimentary manual steering gear allowing "USNS Maumee" to make her way to New Zealand for repairs. "Staten Island" returned from Antarctica to Seattle via stops in Chile, Peru, and Mexico during April 1974. In August and September 1974 "Staten Island" conducted her final deployment. Her crew completed the Arctic West Summer activities, thereby capping a 30 year ice breaking career in the polar regions of the world.