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USCGC ''Mackinaw'' (WLBB-30) is a multi-purpose vessel with a primary mission as a heavy icebreaker specifically built for operations on the North American Great Lakes for the United States Coast Guard. IMO number: 9271054.
Her larger precursor, the USCGC ''Mackinaw'' (WAGB-83), IMO number 6119534, had a 62-year career on the same waters prior to being decommissioned on June 10, 2006, and turned into a
One of the ''Mackinaws unique features in the US Coast Guard fleet is the use of two Azipod units, ABB's brand of electric azimuth thrusters, for her main propulsion. These, coupled with a bow thruster, make the ship exceptionally maneuverable. The Azipod units also remove the need for a traditional rudder, as the thrusters can turn 360 degrees around their vertical axis to direct their thrust in any direction. The ''Mackinaw'' also lacks a traditional ship's steering wheel. Much of the ship’s technology, including the Azipod thrusters, is from Finnish Maritime Cluster. Additionally, the ''Mackinaw'' can continuously proceed through fresh water ice up to 32 inches (81 cm) thick at 3 knots or 14 inches (36 cm) at 10 knots. She can also break smooth, continuous ice up to 42 inches (107 cm) thick by rising on top of it and crushing it with the weight of her bow.
File:MackinawBowLaunch.jpg, USCGC ''Mackinaw'' on launch day, April 2, 2005.
File:Mack Launch 172.jpg, Breaking the champagne bottle on the bow of USCGC ''Mackinaw'' on launch day, April 2, 2005.
File:Mackinaw WLBB-30 Azipod thruster.jpg, Closeup of one of the ship's Azipods.
File:MackinawLaunch.jpg, USCGC ''Mackinaw'' sliding towards the river during the launch.
File:Mackinaw actual launch 2005-04-02.jpg, USCGC ''Mackinaw'' impacting the river.
File:The Engineering Control Center of the USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30).jpg, The Mackinaw's Engineering Control Center, where the engineering watchstanders monitor the ship's machinery
File:Coast Guard escorts commerce through Lake Superior Ice 140403-G-ZZ999-004.jpg, Mackinaw assisting a freighter in ice
File:USCGC Mackinaw entering Grand Haven.jpg, USCGC Mackinaw entering Grand Haven, Michigan May of 2019
Chicago's Christmas Ship
the ''Mackinaw'' delivers Christmas trees annually to Chicago
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mackinaw (WLBB-30) Historic American Engineering Record in Michigan Icebreakers of the United States Coast Guard 2005 ships Ships built by Marinette Marine
museum ship
A museum ship, also called a memorial ship, is a ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public for educational or memorial purposes. Some are also used for training and recruitment purposes, mostly for the small numb ...
docked in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
Among the missions the current ''Mackinaw'' is capable of and tasked with as needed is buoy tending, law enforcement and interdiction, search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
, and environmental remediation
Environmental remediation deals with the removal of pollution or contaminants from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water. Remedial action is generally subject to an array of regulatory requirements, and may al ...
response.
Background
''Mackinaw'' was delivered to the Coast Guard on November 18, 2005 and commissioned on June 10, 2006. In addition to her ice-breaking duties, the ''Mackinaw'' also serves as an Aids-to-Navigation ship, since she is able to perform the same duties as the Seagoing Buoy Tenders (WLB) of the Coast Guard fleet. Further, she can conduct law enforcement and search-and-rescue missions and can deploy an oil-skimming system to respond to oil-spill situations and environmental response.Mechanical aspects
One of the ''Mackinaws unique features in the US Coast Guard fleet is the use of two Azipod units, ABB's brand of electric azimuth thrusters, for her main propulsion. These, coupled with a bow thruster, make the ship exceptionally maneuverable. The Azipod units also remove the need for a traditional rudder, as the thrusters can turn 360 degrees around their vertical axis to direct their thrust in any direction. The ''Mackinaw'' also lacks a traditional ship's steering wheel. Much of the ship’s technology, including the Azipod thrusters, is from Finnish Maritime Cluster. Additionally, the ''Mackinaw'' can continuously proceed through fresh water ice up to 32 inches (81 cm) thick at 3 knots or 14 inches (36 cm) at 10 knots. She can also break smooth, continuous ice up to 42 inches (107 cm) thick by rising on top of it and crushing it with the weight of her bow.
History
The ''Mackinaw'' got off to a rocky start before being commissioned. While en route to her new home port ofCheboygan, Michigan
Cheboygan ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,876. It is the county seat of Cheboygan County.
The name of the city shares the name of the county and probably has its origin from the ...
, the ''Mackinaw'' struck a seawall in Grand Haven, Michigan
Grand Haven is a city within the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand Ha ...
on December 12, 2005. The accident caused a dent in her starboard bow. Shortly after, Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
Donald Triner, the commanding officer of the ''Mackinaw'', was temporarily relieved of duty pending an investigation into the event. The accident did not delay the ship, which arrival on schedule on December 17, 2005. Captain Triner was later permanently relieved of duty and replaced by Captain Michael Hudson.
The ''Mackinaw'' is stationed at Cheboygan, Michigan
Cheboygan ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,876. It is the county seat of Cheboygan County.
The name of the city shares the name of the county and probably has its origin from the ...
. It can be seen and toured at Grand Haven's Coast Guard Festival every summer. The ship was also featured on the television series Modern Marvels.
Captain Hudson was subsequently replaced by Commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
...
John Little in April 2006. CDR Scott J. Smith assumed command in July 2008 and was relieved by CDR Michael J. Davanzo in Aug, 2011. In June 2014, CDR Vasilios Tasikas assumed command. In June 2017, CDR John Stone assumed command. In June 2020, CDR Kristen Serumgard assumed command. In July 2022, CDR Jeannette Greene assumed command.
''Katmai Bay
USCGC ''Katmai Bay'' (WTGB-101) is a United States Coast Guard Cutter, and the lead ship of the Bay-class of icebreaking tugboats. At , she is designed to have greater multi-mission capabilities than the 110' ''Calumet''-class Harbor Tug (WYT ...
'', stationed at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, helps the ''Mackinaw'' in ice breaking duties.
Gallery
References
External links
*Chicago's Christmas Ship
the ''Mackinaw'' delivers Christmas trees annually to Chicago
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mackinaw (WLBB-30) Historic American Engineering Record in Michigan Icebreakers of the United States Coast Guard 2005 ships Ships built by Marinette Marine