U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BRISTOL BAY (WTGB-102), a 140 foot ice-breaking tug, announced its position near Catawba Island at 2:46pm while servicing aids to navigation around the Erie Islands. At 4:12pm the vessel was removing Red Buoy 2 just north of Gibraltar Island. A short while later the ship reported its position near North Bass Island. According to the USCG Web, “CGC BRISTOL BAY became the first Bay Class tug to receive a barge specially designed to perform aids to navigation work. The 120 foot long barge works with the ship to service more than 160 aids to navigation each year.
Also dutifully at work removing harbor buoys were crew members from the U.S. Coast Guard BUSL 49424. This vessel is a 49 foot Buoy Utility Stern Loading vessel utilized to service aids to navigation. This class of coast guard vessel is relatively new; the first ones placed in service in 2001. The 49424 is assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard’s 9th Coast Guard District headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Home-port is Detroit, Michigan.