The USCGC Willow (WLB-202) is a United States Coast Guard seagoing buoy tender and the second vessel of the Juniper-class. Built by Marinette Marine Corporation in Wisconsin, she was launched in June 1996 and commissioned in April 1997. The vessel measures 225 feet (69 meters) in length, with a beam of 46 feet (14 meters) and a draft of 13 feet (4.0 meters). Power is provided by two Caterpillar diesel engines rated at 3,100 horsepower, enabling a top speed of 16 knots. The ship features a single controllable-pitch propeller, bow and stern thrusters, and advanced navigation systems, including a dynamic global positioning system (GPS) and machinery controls that allow precise station-keeping within five meters without human intervention. The Willow's buoy deck spans 2,875 square feet and is equipped with a crane for servicing large ocean buoys. She also possesses an oil-skimming system, the Spilled Oil Recovery System (SORS), for environmental protection missions. Her capabilities include icebreaking, with the ability to break 14 inches of ice at 3 knots and to back and ram through 3 feet of ice. Home-ported in Charleston, South Carolina, Willow's operational area extends from South Carolina to the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, Cuba, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Haiti. While her primary mission is servicing aids to navigation (ATON), she also undertakes maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, homeland security, and search and rescue operations. Notably, she completed the first trans-Atlantic crossing by a U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender in 33 years, during which she visited Ireland, Portugal, France, and Germany. Willow played a vital role after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, helping reopen New York Harbor by resetting damaged buoys. She has participated in joint exercises such as Operation Nanook with Canadian forces and has conducted migrant interdiction deployments supporting Operation Vigilant Sentry into 2024. Her service record highlights her versatility and significance in maritime safety, environmental protection, and international cooperation.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.