CUTTER CHARACTERISTICS
The Coast Guard's 225 foot Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB) fleet was acquired to replace the WWII-era 180 foot Coastal Buoy Tenders. The new Seagoing Buoy Tenders represent the latest in shipbuilding, propulsion, and ship control technology.
The 225 foot WLBs are equipped with a single controllable pitch propeller and thrusters on the bow and stern which give the cutter the maneuverability it needs to tend buoys offshore and in restricted waters. A sophisticated machinery plant control and monitoring system and an electronic chart display and information system enable the 225 foot cutters to reduce the watch standing complement compared to the 180 foot cutters. A dynamic positioning system can hold the vessel within a 10 meter circle using the global positioning system, allowing the crew to service and position floating aids to navigation more efficiently than before in winds up to 30 knots and seas up to eight feet.