USCGC Sundew (WLB-404)

The USCGC "Sundew" (WLB-404) is a convert|180|ft|m|0|sing=on sea going buoy tender (WLB). An "Iris", or C-class vessel, it was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. "Sundew"'s preliminary design was completed by the United States Lighthouse Service and the final design was produced by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth. On 29 November 1943 the keel was laid. It was launched on 8 February 1944 and commissioned on 24 August 1944. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $861,589.

"Sundew" is one of 39 original convert|180|ft|m|0|sing=on seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942-1944. All but one of the original tenders, the USCGC|Ironwood|WLB-307, were built in Duluth. Like all of these tenders, the "Sundew" was named after a plant, in this case the sundew, a carnivorous plants from the genus "Drosera".

In 1958, the "Sundew" was assigned to Charlevoix, Michigan, and the following November helped in the rescue of two survivors from the SS Carl D. Bradley when it sank in a storm on Lake Michigan convert|47|mi|km|0 west-northwest of Charlevoix. The "Sundew" remained at Charlevoix until 1980.

"Sundew" served 60 years for the Coast Guard and was decommissioned and retired on May 27, 2004. As part of the decommissioning, the vessel was given to the city of Duluth, its last home port, to be used as a museum ship. The services provided by the "Sundew" were taken up by USCGC|Alder|WLB-216.

External links

*The Great Lakes Floating Maritime Museum in Duluth, Minnesota is [http://www.williamairvin.com/ the current home of the Sundew] .
* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBCUTTERS/NPS_180_HAER_Report.pdf National Park Service Report on the convert|180|ft|m|0|sing=on buoy tenders]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBCUTTERS/WLB_Photo_Index.html Photo history of USCG buoy tenders by the Coast Guard Historian's Office]