.gif)
USCGC Acacia (WLB-406)
Encyclopedia
The USCGC Acacia (WLB 406) was second to the last of a fleet of 39 similar 180-foot seagoing buoy tenders
completed during World War II
. The Acacia was named after the United States Lighthouse Service
ship Acacia, the only Lighthouse Service vessel sunk during World War II. The Acacia is a multi-purpose vessel, nominally a buoy
tender, but with equipment and capabilities for ice breaking, search and rescue
, fire fighting
, logistics
, and other tasks as well.
The Acacia was homeported in Port Huron, Michigan
, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Grand Haven, MI and Charlevoix, MI. The ship's primary duty was maintaining more than 210 buoy
s, lighthouses, and other navigational aids. Its area of operation ranged from as far south as Calumet Harbor, south Chicago
, to as far north as Little Bay de Noc
, including Green Bay, Wisconsin
; Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
; and Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula
.
Among its various other duties were search and rescue of lost or disabled vessels and icebreaking assistance during the cold winter months. During the ice season, Acacia was one of several Coast Guard ice breakers engaged in Operation Coal Shovel, which keeps the channels between Toledo, Ohio
and Detroit, Michigan
open for the coal ships supplying power plants and industries in Detroit.
The ship also worked with NOAA in their efforts to acquire accurate weather information and with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
as they stock Lake Michigan
with hundred of thousands of yearling trout.
The Acacia was decommissioned June 7, 2006 after 62 years of service. Acacia was the second to last of the 180 feet (55 m) vessels to serve. Although another ship will not be assigned to Acacias current home port, its duties has been picked up then newly commissioned USCGC Mackinaw
which is equipped to handle buoy tending as well as ice breaking.
in Chicago. Locations considered include Navy Pier
, but also moorings along the Chicago River
. The vessel, which was delivered in full working order with only its machine guns removed, is temporarily moored at Burns Harbor in Indiana. The Coast Guard had considered a sale to an unnamed African country, but when that fell through, found the Chicago group's request filed away. The donation was arranged through a transfer to the State of Illinois, which holds title.Home of the American Academy of Industry & USCGC Acacia (WLB-406)
where she has teamed up with the in an effort to give the general population the experience of being and working on board a Great Lakes buoy tender as well as a 1930s car ferry.
USCG Seagoing Buoy Tender
The Seagoing Buoy Tender is a type of U.S. Coast Guard cutter originally designed to service aids to navigation, throughout the waters of the United States, and wherever U.S. shipping interests require. The Coast Guard has maintained a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dating back to its origins in...
completed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Acacia was named after the United States Lighthouse Service
United States Lighthouse Service
The United States Lighthouse Service, also known as the Bureau of Lighthouses, was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States from the time of its creation in 1910 until 1939...
ship Acacia, the only Lighthouse Service vessel sunk during World War II. The Acacia is a multi-purpose vessel, nominally a buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
tender, but with equipment and capabilities for ice breaking, search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue 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, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
, fire fighting
Fire fighting
Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment...
, logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
, and other tasks as well.
The Acacia was homeported in Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Grand Haven, MI and Charlevoix, MI. The ship's primary duty was maintaining more than 210 buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
s, lighthouses, and other navigational aids. Its area of operation ranged from as far south as Calumet Harbor, south Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, to as far north as Little Bay de Noc
Little Bay de Noc
Little Bay de Noc is a bay in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The bay opens into Lake Michigan's Green Bay.The bay, consisting of approximately 30,000 acres , is enclosed by Delta County...
, including Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
; Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. It is located at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay, although the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula.-Geography:Sturgeon Bay is...
; and Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula
Door Peninsula
The Door Peninsula is a peninsula in eastern Wisconsin, separating the southern part of the Green Bay from Lake Michigan. The peninsula begins in northern Brown and Kewaunee counties and proceeds northeast to include all of Door County. It is the western portion of the Niagara Escarpment. Well...
.
Among its various other duties were search and rescue of lost or disabled vessels and icebreaking assistance during the cold winter months. During the ice season, Acacia was one of several Coast Guard ice breakers engaged in Operation Coal Shovel, which keeps the channels between Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
and Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
open for the coal ships supplying power plants and industries in Detroit.
The ship also worked with NOAA in their efforts to acquire accurate weather information and with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
as they stock Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
with hundred of thousands of yearling trout.
The Acacia was decommissioned June 7, 2006 after 62 years of service. Acacia was the second to last of the 180 feet (55 m) vessels to serve. Although another ship will not be assigned to Acacias current home port, its duties has been picked up then newly commissioned USCGC Mackinaw
USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30)
USCGC Mackinaw is a vessel built as a heavy icebreaker for operations on the North American Great Lakes for the United States Coast Guard. IMO number: 9271054...
which is equipped to handle buoy tending as well as ice breaking.
Maritime museum
In 2006, the American Academy of Industry, an Illinois nonprofit group will acquire the ship and turn it into a maritime museumMaritime museum
A maritime museum is a museum specializing in the display of objects relating to ships and travel on large bodies of water...
in Chicago. Locations considered include Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
, but also moorings along the Chicago River
Chicago River
The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of the same name, including its center . Though not especially long, the river is notable for being the reason why Chicago became an important location, as the link between the Great Lakes and...
. The vessel, which was delivered in full working order with only its machine guns removed, is temporarily moored at Burns Harbor in Indiana. The Coast Guard had considered a sale to an unnamed African country, but when that fell through, found the Chicago group's request filed away. The donation was arranged through a transfer to the State of Illinois, which holds title.Home of the American Academy of Industry & USCGC Acacia (WLB-406)
Acacia's relocation to Chicago
On November 10, 2007, the Acacia sailed from Burns Harbor, Indiana to her new home in Chicago in the North Slip of US Steel Southworks, located at the foot of South East 86th Avenue and Lake Michigan.Acacia's relocation to Manistee
In late October of 2009, the "Acacia" steamed under her own power after more than three years of not running the main engines to Manistee, MichiganManistee, Michigan
Manistee is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,586. It is the county seat of Manistee County. The name "Manistee" is from an Ojibwe word first applied to the principal river of the county. The derivation is not certain, but it may be from...
where she has teamed up with the in an effort to give the general population the experience of being and working on board a Great Lakes buoy tender as well as a 1930s car ferry.