USCGC Buckthorn [WLI-642]
1963-Present
Buoy Tender
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1963
Builder: Mobile Ship Repair, Mobile, AL
Hull #–
Registry: US —
IMO #–
Laid Down: —
Launch Date: 1963
Delivered: —
Commissioned: August 18, 1963
Construction
USCGC Buckthorn was constructed in 1963 as a river buoy tender for the U.S. Coast Guard. She is specifically designed for operating on rivers in the Great Lakes region and is able to handle thin ice. She is equipped with a small crane and buoy deck on her forward end for tending to buoys.
Modifications
- Crane replaced, early 1990’s.
General Stats
Length Overall: 100′
Breadth: 24′
Depth: 4’08”
Vessel Type: River Buoy Tender
Propellers: 1
Rudders: 1
Crew Compliment: 16
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: —
Engine Model: —
Number of Engines: —
Rated HP: —
History
Lineage
USCGC Buckthorn [WLI-642]– 1963-1967
Owner: United States Coast Guard, Washington D.C.
Operator: United States Coast Guard, 9th District, Cleveland, OH
Flag: United States
Home Port: Detroit, MI
USCGC Buckthorn [WLI-642]– 1967-1970
Owner: United States Coast Guard, Washington D.C.
Operator: United States Coast Guard, 9th District, Cleveland, OH
Flag: United States
Home Port: Buffalo, NY
USCGC Buckthorn [WLI-642] – 1970-Present
Owner: United States Coast Guard, Washington D.C.
Operator: United States Coast Guard, 9th District, Cleveland, OH
Flag: United States
Home Port: Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Station History
- Detroit, MI – 1963-1967
- Buffalo, NY – 1967-1970
- Sault Ste. Marie, MI – 1970-Present
Her Story
USCGC Buckthorn was constructed in 1963 by Mobile Ship Repair of Mobile, AL, for the U.S. Coast Guard. She was designed to operate on the Great Lakes as a river buoy tender. She was commissioned on August 18, 1963, and originally stationed at Detroit, MI.
Buckthorn was restationed to Buffalo, NY, in 1967, and to her present home port of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, in 1970. She tends to buoys throughout the St. Marys River system from Whitefish Bay and south into the Les Cheneaux Islands near Cedarville, MI. She handles the most buoys out of any other Great Lakes buoy tender.
USCGC Buckthorn remains in service today, and is currently the oldest Coast Guard Cutter in operation on the Great Lakes.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on August 25, 2021
Gallery
USCGC Buckthorn, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 1970’s. Roger LeLievre USCGC Buckthorn, DeTour Reef Lighthouse, 1980’s. Roger LeLievre USCGC Buckthorn, St. Marys River, 1994. Roger LeLievre USCGC Buckthorn, St. Marys River, 1994. Roger LeLievre USCGC Buckthorn, St. Marys River, 5/27/2008. Roger LeLievre USCGC Buckthorn, Soo Locks, 12/16/2008. Roger LeLievre USCGC Buckthorn, drydocked at MCM Marine, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 7/25/2016. Isaac Pennock USCGC Buckthorn, USCG Station Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 8/6/2016. Isaac Pennock USCGC Buckthorn, St. Marys River, 7/25/2017. Roger LeLievre USCGC Buckthorn, St. Marys River, 7/25/2017. Roger LeLievre USCGC Buckthorn, passing Sugar Island, St. Marys River, 6/2019. Daniel Lindner USCGC Buckthorn, Coast Guard Festival 2019, Grand Haven, MI, 7/31/2019. Isaac Pennock
Sources
“CGC Buckthorn”. United States Coast Guard, N.d. Accessed 25 August 2021 <https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-9/Ninth-District-Staff/Prevention-Division/Cutters/BUCKTHORN/>
LeLievre, Roger. Know Your Ships 2021. Marine Publishing Co., 2021. Pp. 86.