Misplaced Pages

#792207

24-619: USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tender (WLB) which sank in 1980 in a collision near the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge , resulting in 23 crew member fatalities. An Iris -class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth , Minnesota . Blackthorn ' s preliminary design was completed by the United States Lighthouse Service and

48-602: A 10 metres (33 ft) circle in winds of up to 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and waves of up to 8 feet (2.4 m). John B. Hayes John Briggs Hayes (30 August 1924 – 17 January 2001) was an admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 16th commandant from 1978 to 1982. Hayes was born in Jamestown, New York , and grew up in Bradford, Pennsylvania . He graduated from

72-561: A major overhaul in Tampa , Florida . On 28 January 1980, while leaving Tampa Bay after the overhaul, she collided with the tanker SS Capricorn . Shortly after the collision, Blackthorn capsized, killing 23 of her crew. The cutter was raised for the investigation, and was scuttled in the Gulf of Mexico after the investigation was complete. She currently serves as an artificial reef for recreational diving and fishing. Having just completed her overhaul at

96-780: The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor for his actions on USCGC Blackthorn . USCG seagoing buoy tender Six U.S. Army mine planters built 1917–1919 were transferred to the U.S. Light House Service during a reduction in the Army in the early 1920s. These, after absorption into the U.S. Coast Guard, became that service's " Speedwell class": The ships were 172 feet (52.4 m) in length, 32 feet (9.8 m) beam with 11 feet 6 inches (3.5 m) draft displacing 1,130 tons. Early mine planters, at first termed "torpedo planters," had been modeled after USLHS vessels which had similar requirements for handling heavy loads alongside

120-872: The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut in 1946, although Academy records list him in the Class of 1947. His first command assignment was at the LORAN Transmitting Station in Matsumae, Hokkaidō , Japan . After a series of Coast Guard cutter command assignments, he attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island . Following graduation from the Naval War College, he

144-453: The 180s are now retired and have been replaced with the 225-foot (69 m) Juniper -class cutters. The last 180-foot cutter, USCGC  Acacia , was decommissioned on 7 June 2006. The Juniper class ships, launched in the late 1990s, are the second class of purpose-built Coast Guard seagoing buoy tenders. They are designed and operated as multi-mission platforms. While the 180s also performed other Coast Guard missions, they lacked

168-496: The Gulf Tampa Drydock Company, which included overhaul of the main propulsion generators, Blackthorn was outward bound from Tampa Bay on the night of 28 January 1980. Meanwhile, the tanker Capricorn , owned by Kingston Shipping Company and operated by Apex Marine Corporation of New York, was standing (traveling with right-of-way) into the bay. Blackthorn ' s captain, Lieutenant Commander George Sepel, had departed

192-656: The U.S. Coast Guard and refitted as the Jonquil class of buoy tenders were after World War II. Two classes of purpose-built, rather than refitted mine planters, Coast Guard seagoing buoy tenders have been produced. The first was the 180 ft-class cutters, which were 180 feet (55 m) long. Thirty-nine of these vessels were built from 1942–1944. All but one were constructed in the shipyards of Duluth, Minnesota . The 180 fleet, many of which served for more than 50 years, all went through different mid-life modifications that essentially resulted in three different classes of ship. All of

216-628: The United States Coast Guard Academy. From 1975, until his appointment as Coast Guard Commandant, he served as commander of the Juneau, Alaska -based 17th Coast Guard District. Under Hayes' leadership, the Coast Guard accomplished a number of firsts for women in the military, including the assignment of Lieutenant (junior grade) Beverly Kelley , as the first female commanding officer of a U.S. military vessel, and Lieutenant Kay Hartzell, as

240-399: The brightly lit passenger vessel obscured the ability of the crews of Blackthorn and Capricorn to see each other.) Capricorn began to turn left, but this course would not allow Capricorn and Blackthorn to pass port -to-port, as the rules of navigation generally required. Unable to make radio contact with Blackthorn , Capricorn ' s pilot blew two short whistle blasts to have

264-502: The final design was produced by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth. On 21 May 1943 the keel was laid, she was launched on 20 July 1943 and commissioned on 27 March 1944. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $ 876,403. Blackthorn was one of 39 original 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942 and 1944. All but one of the original tenders, USCGC  Ironwood , were built in Duluth. Blackthorn

SECTION 10

#1732851795793

288-446: The life jackets. His actions saved a number of lives during the accident at the cost of his own. His heroism was initially overlooked by the two official reports by the Coast Guard and the NTSB , but was later recognized. In October 2010, it was announced that the third new Sentinel-class fast response cutter , a 154-foot patrol boat, would be named for Flores. In May 2021, Flores was awarded

312-611: The marine board's determination of the cause, the Commandant emphasized in his "Action" that the failure of the persons in charge of both vessels to ascertain the intentions of the other through the exchange of appropriate whistle signals was the primary contributing cause. Additionally, Admiral Hayes pointed out that attempts to establish a passing agreement by using only radiotelephone communications failed to be an adequate substitute for exchanging proper whistle signals. The marine board found evidence of violation of various navigation laws on

336-641: The parts of Capricorn ' s master and pilot. There were similar findings on the part of Blackthorn ' s commanding officer and officer of the deck. These matters were referred to the commanders of the Seventh and Eighth Coast Guard Districts for further investigation and appropriate action. The Commandant also acted on various safety recommendations made by the marine board concerning training and equipment aboard Coast Guard vessels, and navigation considerations in Tampa Bay. Seaman Apprentice William "Billy" Flores

360-506: The ship through an unfamiliar waterway with heavy traffic. The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral John B. Hayes , approved the report of the marine board of investigation on the collision between Blackthorn and Capricorn . The board determined that the cause of the collision was the failure of both vessels to keep well to the side of the channel which lay on each ship's starboard (right) sides. Concurring with

384-524: The ship's bridge to investigate a problem with the newly installed propulsion shaft. Ensign John Ryan had the conn. Earlier the cutter had been overtaken by the Russian passenger ship Kazakhstan . When requested by Kazakhstan to pass, the Blackthorn navigated starboard permitting Kazakhstan to complete the maneuver. The Blackthorn then navigated to almost mid-channel and resumed course. (Some contend that

408-411: The ship. Several crew members who had just reported aboard tried to escape and in the process trapped themselves in the engine room. Although 27 crewmen survived the collision, 23 perished. Primary responsibility for the collision was placed on the Blackthorn ' s captain, Lt. Commander Sepel, as he had made an inexperienced junior officer (Ensign Ryan) officer of the deck and allowed him to navigate

432-430: The ships pass starboard -to-starboard. With the Blackthorn ' s officer of the deck (Ensign Ryan) confused in regard to the standard operating procedure and rules of navigation , Blackthorn ' s captain issued orders for evasive action. Despite the Blackthorn ' s evasive action, a collision occurred. Damage to the Blackthorn from the initial impact was not extensive. However, Capricorn ' s anchor

456-448: The speed, communications, navigation and maneuverability of the new Juniper s. Today, the Juniper s conduct almost as much law enforcement as aid to navigation work; they are also outfitted to handle oil spill recovery, search and rescue, homeland security, and some ice breaking operations. The Juniper class uses Dynamic Positioning which allows maintenance of the vessel's position within

480-462: The vessels so that mine planters were easily converted to buoy work. Built from 1942 to 1943 by Marietta Manufacturing Company, Point Pleasant, West Virginia , these 188-foot (57 m) U.S Army mine planters were designed for diesel engines but low pressure steam plants were installed instead. Six of the vessels were transferred to the U.S. Navy as the Chimo class. Five vessels were later transferred to

504-555: Was initially assigned to the Great Lakes for ice-breaking duties, but after only a few months, she was reassigned to San Pedro , California . She served in San Pedro for several years before being brought into the gulf coast region to serve in Mobile , Alabama then transferred to Galveston, Texas for the final years of her service until the accident. In 1979–1980, Blackthorn underwent

SECTION 20

#1732851795793

528-548: Was originally from Carlsbad, New Mexico and attended Western Hills High School in Fort Worth , Texas . In 2000 he was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Medal , the service's highest award for heroism in peacetime. SA Flores, who had been out of boot camp just one year, opened the life jacket locker as Blackthorn capsized, securing its hatch open with his belt, and made sure that his shipmates were able to access and use

552-421: Was ready to be let go. The anchor became embedded in the Blackthorn ' s hull and ripped open the port side above the water line. Then as the two ships backed away from each other, the chain became taut. The force of the much larger ship pulling on it caused Blackthorn to tip on her side until she suddenly capsized. Six off-duty personnel who had mustered when they heard the collision alarm were trapped inside

576-539: Was stationed in Washington, D.C. , where he graduated from George Washington University 's Elliott School of International Affairs , earning an M.A. in international affairs. From 1966 to 1968, Hayes assumed a command post, stationed in Vietnam, during the war . Returning to Washington, he was promoted to captain and assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard's Office of Boating Safety, followed by his service as Commandant of cadets at

#792207