USCGC Sassafras ( WLB - 401 ) The Sassafras is a C - Class , 180 ft , seagoing buoy tender constructed for the USCG by Marine Iron & Shipbuilding Corp . of Duluth , Minnesota . The " Sass " was one of 39 tenders commissioned for duties that would include aids - to - navigation , ice breaking , search - and - rescue , fire fighting , law enforcement , providing fuel and potable water , and assistance to the National Oceanographic and Seismographic Survey . History . 1943 - 16 Aug . Keel laid at Duluth Minnesota . 1943 - 05 Oct . Launched Superior Bay . 1944 - 23 May . Commissioned as USCGC Sassafras ( WAGL - 401 ) . 1945 - 15 Apr . Homeported San Francisco , California . 1946 - 23 Aug . Left San Francisco for new homeport of Honolulu , Hawaii . 1946 - 47 - Assisted the Seventh Fleet involved in wartime operations in the Philippines . 1947 - 22 Aug . Left Honolulu for new homeport of Cape May , New Jersey . 1949 - Assisted the cutter " Eastwind " after she was severely damaged in a collision . 1957 - 4 Sep . Assisted after a mid - air collision between two USAF F89 aircraft in Delaware Bay . 1965 - Hull Classification Symbol changed to WLB . 1969 - 12 Jan . Grounded on a pinnacle in the Hudson River , north of Bear Mountain Bridge ; she was re - floated four days later . 1977 - 78 - Underwent a " major renovation " at the Coast Guard Yard . The " major renovation " program was conducted on the following 180 - foot tenders between 1974 - 1979 : " Sedge , Bramble , Ironwood , Mariposa , Acacia , Sweetbrier , Hornbeam , Spar , Sassafras , Sundew , Firebush , and Woodrush . " This renovation involved the complete removal and overhaul of all mechanical systems including the main engines and the propulsion switchboard . A bow thruster was also added . The tenders were then recabled , repiped , and all habitability spaces were renovated and the forward hold was redesigned to increase berthing space . 1978 - Moved homeport to Governors Island , New York . 1981 - Returned to Honolulu , Hawaii . 1986 - 5 Dec . Rescued two people from the sailboat Joie de Mar , which was disabled 550 miles southwest of Honolulu , Hawaii . 1989 - Feb . Assisted after United Airlines Flight 811 crash off Hawaii . 1989 - 90 - MCI Ship Yard in Bellingham , Washington . Major renovations and replacement of Main Diesel Engine ' s and major auxiliary systems during a 7 month yard period . Removing the Cooper - Bessemer Engines and replacing with General Motors Diesel plant . 1990 - Rescued 28 crewmen from sinking Greek freighter ( Vulca ) 800 miles northeast of Hawaii . 1999 - Moved homeport to Apra Harbor , Guam to replace the CGC Basswood . 2003 - Decommissioned after 59 years of service . Transferred to the Federal Republic of Nigeria , to continue her proud naval history as the Nigerian Naval Ship " Obula " . The " Sassafras " was named after a type of tree , most famous for flavoring root beer . All of the 180s were named after trees , shrubs , or flowers . This was a continuation of the longstanding Lighthouse Service practice of naming tenders after foliage found in the tender ’ s intended area of operations . For the 180s , however , there was no particular area of operations envisioned for individual vessels .