USCGC ''Hollyhock'' (WLB-214) is a ''Juniper''-class cutter of the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

. A seagoing buoy tender, ''Hollyhock'' was built by Marinette Marine Corporation and launched on January 25, 2003. ''Hollyhock'' is currently assigned to

Port Huron, Michigan Port Huron is a city in and seat of government of St. Clair County, Michigan, United States. The population was 28,983 at the 2020 census. The city is bordered on the west by Port Huron Township, but the two are administered autonomously. Po ...

, as its home port. USCGC ''Hollyhock'' replaced the previous cutter stationed in Port Huron, the , which retired after 60 years of service. ''Hollyhock'' was named after a previous cutter of the same name that served the USCG from 1937 to 1982. ''Hollyhock'' is designed as a multi-mission vessel, with its missions being aids to navigation, icebreaking, search and rescue, law enforcement, and marine environmental protection. Today, the ''Juniper'' tenders conduct almost as much law enforcement as aid to navigation work.

History

Collision with the MV ''Mesabi Miner''

On the morning of January 5, 2014 ''Hollyhock'' was breaking ice for the

lake freighter Lake freighters, or lakers, are bulk carriers operating on the Great Lakes of North America. These vessels are traditionally called boats, although classified as ships. Freighters typically have a long, narrow hull, a raised pilothouse, and the ...

MV ''Mesbai Miner'' approximately 22 nautical miles west of the

Straits of Mackinac The Straits of Mackinac ( ; ) are the short waterways between the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, traversed by the Mackinac Bridge. The main strait is wide with a maximum depth of , and connects the Great Lakes of Lake M ...

. She slowed after encountering harder ice and was struck in the stern by the much larger ore carrier. Both vessels sustained damage but there were no injuries, release of pollutants, or reports of flooding. As of January 11, 2014 temporary repairs had been made to ''Hollyhock'' and her ice breaking duties resumed.

New homeport

In Spring 2023, ''Hollyhock'' left Port Huron for the last time. After mid-life maintenance in Baltimore, Maryland, she will be reassigned to a new homeport in Honolulu, Hawaii.

References

External links

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History USCGC ''Hollyhock''
Ships of the United States Coast Guard Juniper-class seagoing buoy tenders Ships built by Marinette Marine 2003 ships {{US-mil-ship-stub