page_title: USCGC Spar (WLB-206)
section_title: Construction
hierarchical_section_title: USCGC Spar (WLB-206) / Construction
caption_attribution_description: English: The launch of USCGC SPAR into the Menominee River
context_page_description: USCGC SPAR (WLB-206) is a United States Coast Guard Juniper-Class seagoing buoy tender home-ported in Kodiak, Alaska. The ship maintains aids to navigation in the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea, for which she has acquired the nickname "Aleutian Keeper".
context_section_description: The keel for SPAR was laid on December 15, 1999 at Marinette Marine Corporation in Wisconsin. SPAR was launched on August 12, 2000. She was christened by US Attorney General Janet Reno.  Also speaking at her launch ceremony was US Senator Herb Kohl, and US Coast Guard Vice Admiral Timothy Josiah.  She was the sixth of the fourteen Juniper-class ships launched.
  Her hull is constructed of welded steel plates.  She is 225 feet (69 m) long and has a beam of 46 feet (14 m).  She is capable of maintaining a sustained speed of 15 knots.  The ship has thirteen diesel fuel tanks capable of holding 74,498 gallons.  SPAR has an unrefueled range of 6,000 miles at 12 knots.
  SPAR has a single variable-pitch propeller that is powered by two Caterpillar 3608 Diesel engines, each with an indicated 3,100 shp.  There are two electric maneuvering thrusters, the bow thruster producing 460 hp and the stern thruster producing 550 hp.  The thrusters act as part of a dynamic positioning system that is capable of maintaining the ship within five meters of a fixed position on the sea in winds up to 30 knots and seas up to 8 feet (2.4 m).  This allows the crew to work on buoys in difficult weather conditions.
  The ship's crane extends to 60 feet (18 m) and can lift 40,000 pounds (18,000 kg) onto her buoy deck, which is 2,875 square feet in area.
  SPAR is armed with two 50-caliber machine guns and a variety of small arms for boarding operations.
  The cutter is named after the former U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserves, also known as SPARS from the Latin and English translations of the Coast Guard Motto: Semper Paratus; Always Ready!  She is the second Coast Guard ship of this name.  The first USCGC SPAR (WLB-403) was launched in 1943.
caption: Launch of USCGC SPAR
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