USCGC WALNUT 205

• Commissioned in 2019: USCGC WALNUT (WLB-205) is a Juniper-class sea-going buoy tender, recommissioned in 2019 after a major overhaul and relocation to Hawaii, replacing an older cutter of the same name. • Namesake Legacy: The current WALNUT is the second Coast Guard vessel to bear the name, continuing the legacy of the original WALNUT (WLM-252), which served from 1939 to 2019. • Homeport in Honolulu: WALNUT (205) is homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii, and serves throughout the expansive 14th Coast Guard District, covering over 12 million square miles of the Pacific. • Vast Area of Responsibility: The cutter’s duties include maintaining aids to navigation (ATON) across the Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and other Pacific territories. • Multi-mission Platform: In addition to ATON, WALNUT is equipped for search and rescue, law enforcement, marine environmental protection, and homeland security missions. • Major Shipyard Overhaul: Before arriving in Hawaii, WALNUT underwent a Service Life Extension Project (SLEP) in Baltimore, Maryland, to update systems and extend her operational life by 15 years. • Advanced Buoy Handling: The cutter is fitted with a 20-ton hydraulic crane and dynamic positioning system, allowing precise navigation and heavy buoy work even in challenging conditions. • Humanitarian Missions: WALNUT frequently participates in Pacific disaster relief efforts, delivering supplies and aid to remote islands following typhoons and other emergencies. • International Partnerships: The crew conducts joint operations and training exercises with Pacific island nations, strengthening maritime security and cooperation in the region. • Environmental Stewardship: WALNUT is active in protecting Pacific marine sanctuaries, supporting efforts like pollution response, marine debris cleanups, and endangered species protection.