USCGC SUNDEW

• Historic Launch: USCGC SUNDEW (WLB-404) was launched on February 8, 1944, by the Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Company in Duluth, Minnesota, during World War II. • Service as a Buoy Tender: Designed as a 180-foot Iris-class seagoing buoy tender, her primary mission was to maintain navigational aids across the Great Lakes and coastal waters. • World War II Role: During WWII, SUNDEW was commissioned to assist with war-related navigation, ensuring safe passage for military and merchant vessels. • Great Lakes Guardian: For much of her career, SUNDEW operated out of Duluth, Minnesota, serving as a guardian of the Great Lakes and playing a vital role in maritime safety and rescue missions. • Icebreaking Duties: SUNDEW was equipped for light icebreaking, helping to keep shipping lanes open during the harsh winters on the Great Lakes. • Rescue Operations: Over her long service, SUNDEW participated in numerous search and rescue missions, saving countless lives from the treacherous waters of the Great Lakes. • Longest-Serving Iris-Class Tender: At her decommissioning in 2004, SUNDEW was the oldest operational cutter of her class, having served 60 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. • Environmental Missions: SUNDEW was also used for environmental protection, including oil spill response and enforcement of environmental regulations. • Decommissioning and Museum Ship: After her retirement in 2004, SUNDEW became a museum ship in Duluth, preserving her legacy and educating the public about the Coast Guard's history. • Namesake: The cutter was named after the sundew plant, a carnivorous species known for its sticky, dew-like secretions—a tradition for buoy tenders to be named after plants.