CGC Acacia (WLB 406)

• Launch and Commissioning: CGC Acacia (WLB-406) was launched on February 7, 1944, by Zenith Dredge Company in Duluth, Minnesota, and commissioned on November 1, 1944, as part of the U.S. Coast Guard’s 180-foot seagoing buoy tender class. • World War II Service: Although commissioned during World War II, Acacia mainly conducted aids-to-navigation (ATON) and icebreaking operations on the Great Lakes, supporting wartime logistics and ship movements. • Class and Sister Ships: Acacia was an Iris-class buoy tender, one of 39 “C” or 180-foot class tenders constructed between 1942 and 1944, which became the backbone of the Coast Guard’s ATON fleet. • Icebreaking Capabilities: Designed with reinforced hulls, Acacia played a vital role in breaking ice to keep shipping lanes open across Lakes Michigan and Huron, especially during harsh winters. • Rescue Operations: Over her career, Acacia participated in numerous search and rescue missions, including notable assistance to stranded or damaged vessels trapped by ice or weather. • Notable Incident – SS Carl D. Bradley: In November 1958, Acacia was one of the first vessels to respond to the sinking of the SS Carl D. Bradley, a Great Lakes freighter that broke apart during a storm, resulting in significant loss of life. • Modernization: Acacia underwent major renovations in 1975, receiving upgrades to her engines, navigation systems, and living quarters, extending her service life for several more decades. • Longest-Serving Buoy Tender: By her retirement in 2006, Acacia was one of the last two “original” 180-foot buoy tenders still in service, marking more than 61 years of continuous duty. • Homeport: For much of her career, Acacia was homeported in Charlevoix, Michigan, serving as a familiar sight to residents and mariners on the northern Great Lakes. • Preserved as a Museum Ship: After decommissioning, Acacia was acquired by the S.S. City of Milwaukee museum in Manistee, Michigan, where she is preserved as a museum ship and is open to public tours, keeping her legacy alive.