page_title: Coast Guard District 9
section_title: Cutters
hierarchical_section_title: Coast Guard District 9 / Cutters
context_page_description: District 9 is a United States Coast Guard district located at the Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building in Cleveland, Ohio. District 9 is responsible for all Coast Guard operations on the five Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence Seaway, and surrounding states accumulating 6,700 miles of shoreline and 1,500 miles of international shoreline with Canada.
context_section_description: District 9 has ten active cutters operating in all five Great Lakes. Cutter is a term used by the U.S. Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. They are 65 feet (19.8 m) or greater in length and have a permanently assigned crew with accommodations aboard. They carry the ship prefix USCGC.
  USCGC Alder (WLB-216) is a 225-foot multi-mission cutter located in Duluth, MN. Its primary missions are to aid in navigation, ice breaking, law enforcement, and search and rescue. In addition, Alder performs missions such as marine environmental protection and port security. Alder operates on all five Great Lakes, however, most of its operations are in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
  USCGC Biscayne Bay (WTGB-104) is a 140-foot icebreaking tug stationed in Saint Ignace, MI. Its primary mission is to maintain tracks in the connecting waterways in the Great Lakes and assist vessels through icebound shipping lanes. Biscayne Bay operates widely throughout the great lakes. Primary areas of operation are the Straits of Mackinac and the St. Mary's River. In addition, the cutter operates in the St. Clair/Detroit River system, Green Bay, WI, Duluth, MN, and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
  USCGC Bristol Bay (WTGB-102) is a 140-foot icebreaking tug stationed in Detroit, MI. Its primary responsibility is opening and maintaining icebound shipping lanes in the Great Lakes. In addition, Bristol Bay performs missions such as search and rescue, marine environmental protection, law enforcement, and port security and safety. U.S. Coast Guard engineers designed Bristol Bay.
  USCGC Buckthorn (WLI-642) is a 100-foot Inland Buoy Tender stationed in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Its primary missions are Aids to Navigation within the Sault Ste Marie's River System, Homeland Security, and Public Affairs. Buckthorn's area of responsibility expands from Whitefish Point, MI thru Sault Ste Marie's River. Buckthorn is the oldest cutter in the Great Lakes.
  USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214) is a 225-foot Seagoing Buoy Tender stationed in Port Huron, MI. It is responsible for approximately 150 aids-to-navigation on mainly Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Erie. Hollyhock other primary missions include search and rescue, environmental protection, and domestic ice-breaking. Hollyhock was built in 2003 to replace WWII-era USCGC Bramble (WLB-392).
  USCGC Katmai Bay (WTGB-101) is a 140-foot Bay-class Icebreaking Tug stationed in Sault Sainte Marie, MI. Its primary missions include icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects, Law Enforcement, and Public Affairs. Katmai Bay operates within all Great Lakes.
  
   
  USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a 240-foot vessel stationed in Cheboygan, MI. It is the only U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Great Lakes designed for heavy icebreaking and specifically used for multi-mission capabilities, such as environmental response, Homeland Security, and search and rescue. Mackinaw contains state of the art technology such as its ability to deploy an oil skimming system to respond to oil spill incidents.
  USCGC Mobile Bay (WTGB-103) is a 140-foot vessel designed for icebreaking and is stationed in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Mobile Bay conducts icebreaking missions near Green Bay, WI, Straits of Mackinac, and the St. Mary's River from mid-December through mid-April. Its other missions include Maritime Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Environmental Pollution Response, and Homeland Security.
  USCGC Morro Bay (WTGB-106) is a 140-foot Bay-class Icebreaking Tug stationed in Cleveland, OH. Its primary missions include Icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects, Law Enforcement, and Public Affairs. Morro Bay operates within all Great Lakes and has coined the nickname, "Jack of all trades".
  USCG Neah Bay (WTGB-105) is a 140-foot Bay-class Icebreaking Tug stationed in Cleveland, OH. Its primary missions include Icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects, Law Enforcement, and Public Affairs. Neah Bay operates broadly within all Great Lakes.
caption: USCGC Mackinaw
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