USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30)

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Career

Builder:	Marinette Marine Corporation
Keel Laid:	February 09, 2004
Launched:	April 2, 2005
Commissioned:	June 10, 2006
General characteristics
Displacement:	3,500 tons
Length:	240 ft (73.1 m)
Beam:	58.5 ft (17.8 m)
Draft:	16 ft (4.87 m)
Speed:	15 knots (28 km/h)
Propulsion:	Integrated Main Propulsion & Electrical Plant ABB Azipod® - Fixed Pitch, 10’ diameter
Shaft Horsepower:	9,119 hp
Complement:	9 Officers, 46 Enlisted
Storage Capacity
Diesel Fuel:	130,896 U.S. gallons
Potable Water:	27,500 gallons

USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a 240-foot (73 m) vessel built as a heavy icebreaker for operations on the North American Great Lakes for the United States Coast Guard. She should not be confused with a namesake ship, the USCGC Mackinaw (WAGB-83), which was decommissioned on June 10, 2006.

Mackinaw (WLBB-30), was delivered to the Coast Guard on November 18, 2005 and commissioned on June 10, 2006. In addition to her ice-breaking duties, the Mackinaw will also serve as an Aids to Navigation ship, able to perform the same duties as the Seagoing Buoy Tenders (WLB) of the Coast Guard fleet.

One of the Mackinaw's unique features in the US Coast Guard fleet is the use of azipods for her main propulsion. These, coupled with a 550 hp (410 kW) bow thruster, makes the ship exceptionally maneuverable. Azipods also negate the need for a traditional rudder, as the azipods can turn 360 degrees on their axis direct thrust in any direction. The Mackinaw also lacks a traditional ships steering wheel. Much of the ship's technology, including the azipod thrusters is from Finnish Maritime Cluster.

The Mackinaw got off to a rocky start before being commissioned. In an unfortunate mishap, the Mackinaw struck a seawall in Grand Haven, Michigan while enroute to her new home port of Cheboygan, MI on December 12, 2005 while being driven by the XO. The accident caused a 10-foot (3.0 m) dent in the bow of the Mackinaw on her starboard side. Shortly after the accident, Captain Donald Triner, the commanding officer of the Mackinaw, was temporarily relieved of duty pending an investigation into the accident. The accident did not delay the ship's scheduled arrival in her new home port. She arrived on December 17, 2005. Captain Triner was later permanently relieved of duty and replaced by Captain Michael Hudson, who was replaced in turn by Cmdr. John Little in April 2006.

The Mackinaw can be seen and toured at Grand Haven, MI's Coast Guard Festival every summer.

USCGC Mackinaw on launch day, April 2, 2005.	Breaking the champagne bottle on the bow of USCGC Mackinaw on launch day, April 2, 2005.	USCGC Mackinaw on launch day, April 2, 2005. Note the azipods.	Closeup of an azipod.
USCGC Mackinaw sliding towards the river during the launch.	USCGC Mackinaw impacting the river.