USCGC Cutter Hollyhock WLB-214 Poster

United Stages Coast Guard Cutter stationed in Port Huron Michigan. From www.uscg.mil “Hollyhock is the 14th Juniper Class Seagoing Buoy Tender built out of a projected 16 of this class. She is 225 feet long, displaces 2,000 long tons, and is powered by two diesel engines which power a single controllable pitch propeller. Hollyhock is also equipped with bow and stern thrusters, in addition to a 20-tonne hydraulic, 60-foot telescoping beam Appleton crane. She carries a crew of eight officers and 42 enlisted personnel.” “Built at Marinette Marine Corp. in Marinette, Wisc. Launched Jan. 25. 2003, she underwent fit-out and sea trials before officially taking up station at Port Huron, replacing the World War II-vintage tender Bramble. The cruise took the Hollyhock past the Bramble, now a museum ship at Port Huron. Many of Hollyhock's crew previously served on the Bramble before joining their new vessel.” “Hollyhock's primary missions are aids-to-navigation (maintenance, removal and replacement), search and rescue, environmental protection and ice-breaking.” The Hollyhock's Dynamic Positioning System, which allows a computer to take control of the engines, rudder, propeller and thrusters, can hold the ship within a 10-metre circle in winds up to 30 knots and eight-foot seas, which allows pinpoint positioning of buoys. The vessel is responsible for nearly 150 aids-to-navigation on the lower Great Lakes.” Photos by Photographer Frank Switlicki.