The USCGC Cowslip (WLB-277) is a 180 feet (55 m) sea going buoy tender

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...

 (WLB). A Cactus class vessel, it was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...

. Cowslips preliminary design was completed by 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...

 and the final design was produced by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth. On 16 September 1941 the keel was laid. It was launched on 11 April 1942 and commissioned on 17 October 1942. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $918,873.

Cowslip is one of 39 original 180 feet (55 m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942-1944. All but one of the original tenders, the , were built in Duluth.

After being commissioned, Cowslip was assigned to Boston, MA, where it served until 1944. From 1944 until 1973, it was assigned to Portland, Maine. Cowslip was decommissioned in 1973 and later sold to a civilian firm in 1977. After the loss of the in 1980, the Coast Guard re-purchased the Cowslip and recommissioned it as a replacement.

After recommissioning, Cowslip was assigned to Governor's Island, NY from 1981-1983. From 1983-1984, it was moved to the Coast Guard yard in Curtis Bay, MD to take part in the Coast Guard's SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) that eventually provided major upgrades for 14 of the 39 "180s". The work done to Cowslip, which cost $8.9 million, was completed in 1984 and took 16 months of work. The upgrades included new main engines, a Marine Sanitation Device system, upgraded electronics and navigation equipment, a propulsion control computer, and a central fluid power system. In addition, the ships's berthing spaces were renovated, the ship's office and radio room were expanded, additional storeroom space was added and the boom control booth was relocated. After renovation, Cowslip was assigned to Portsmouth, VA, where it stayed until 1995. In 1995 Cowslip moved to the west coast and called Astoria, OR home port until it was retired.

One notable incident in the Cowslip's career is a collision with the 757 feet (231 m) container ship Ever Grade that occurred in the Columbia River in 1997. Although sustaining significant damage, Cowslip was repaired and sent back in to service.

Cowslip was decommissioned for a second time in November 2002 and sold to the Nigerian Navy for use as a general purpose vessel.