USCGC Kanawha

• Name Origin: USCGC Kanawha is named after the Kanawha River, a major waterway in West Virginia, following the U.S. Coast Guard tradition of naming inland buoy tenders after American rivers. • Class and Type: Kanawha (WLR-75405) is a 75-foot river buoy tender, part of the USCG’s inland buoy tender fleet. • Commissioning Date: The current USCGC Kanawha was commissioned in 1998, replacing an earlier vessel of the same name. • Primary Mission: Her primary mission is to maintain aids to navigation (ATON) along the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers, ensuring safe passage for commercial and recreational vessels. • Area of Operations: Based in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Kanawha operates across over 900 miles of waterways, maintaining more than 300 buoys and markers. • Historic Namesake: The original USCGC Kanawha was a 1903-built cutter that served during both World Wars, performing convoy escort and anti-submarine duties before being sunk in 1943. • Crew Size: The modern Kanawha typically operates with a small crew of around 11 personnel, including officers and enlisted members. • Icebreaking Duties: In winter, Kanawha’s reinforced hull allows her to break river ice, ensuring that commercial barge traffic can continue during freezing conditions. • Support to Disasters: Kanawha has provided crucial support during natural disasters, such as floods, by relocating buoys, clearing debris, and aiding in search and rescue operations. • Community Involvement: The crew of Kanawha often participates in local outreach, including maritime safety education and partnership projects with other agencies and communities along her route.