USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214)

For other ships with the same name, see USCGC Hollyhock.

USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214) is a 225-foot (69 m) Juniper-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard.

USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214)

USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214) sailing through Canadian waters in August 2012.
History
United States
Builder	Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisconsin
Launched	25 January 2003
Homeport	Port Huron, Michigan
Identification	IMO number: 9271133 MMSI number: 369932000 Callsign: NHHF
Motto	Patronus A Penitus Mare (Latin for "Sentinel of The Inland Seas")
Status	Active
Badge
General characteristics
Class & type	Juniper
Displacement	2,000 long tons (2,000 t) at design draft (full load)
Length	225 ft (69 m)
Beam	46 ft (14 m)
Draft	13 ft (4.0 m)
Propulsion	2 × 3,100 shp (2,300 kW) Caterpillar diesel engines
Speed	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) at full load displacement (80% rated power)
Range	6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	50 (8 officers, 42 enlisted)

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, as its home port. USCGC Hollyhock replaced the previous cutter stationed in Port Huron, the USCGC Bramble, 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.^[1]

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

USCGC Hollyhock on the Detroit River in 2003

Collision with the MV Mesabi Miner

The 1000 ft (305 m) MV Mesbai Miner at the Soo Locks in 2011

On the morning of January 5, 2014 Hollyhock was breaking ice for the lake freighter MV Mesbai Miner approximately 22 nautical miles west of the Straits of Mackinac. 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.^[2]

As of January 11, 2014 temporary repairs had been made to Hollyhock and her ice breaking duties resumed.^[3]

New homeport

In Spring 2023, Hollyhock left Port Huron for the last time.^[4] After mid-life maintenance in Baltimore, Maryland, she will be reassigned to a new homeport in Honolulu, Hawaii.^[5]