The Keeper class of coastal buoy tenders consists of fourteen ships built for and operated by the United States Coast Guard. The ships were launched between 1995 and 1999 and all remain in active service. Their primary mission is to maintain thousands of aids to navigation, both buoys and land-based. Their secondary missions include marine environmental protection, search and rescue, law enforcement, and light ice-breaking.
USCGC Henry Blake, the 13th Keeper-class ship launched
USCGC Marcus Hanna breaking ice near Boston
Image: USCGC Ida Lewis in New York Harbor
Image: Katherine Walker 552 1
USCG seagoing buoy tender
The USCG seagoing buoy tender is a type of United States Coast Guard Cutter used to service aids to navigation throughout the waters of the United States and wherever American shipping interests require. The U.S. Coast Guard has maintained a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dating back to its origins in the U.S. Lighthouse Service (USLHS). These ships originally were designated with the hull classification symbol WAGL, but in 1965 the designation was changed to WLB, which is still used today.
USCGC Sundew (WLB-404)
USCGC Conifer (WLB-301) c. 1966
USCGC Mesquite (WLB-305)
Launch of the Juniper-class buoy tender USCGC Oak (WLB-211)