About this Unit
USCGC WALNUT (WLB-205) is a United States Coast Guard seagoing buoy tender of the Juniper class, commissioned in 1997. Originally homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii, WALNUT was responsible for maintaining aids to navigation, conducting search and rescue, environmental protection, and law enforcement operations throughout the Pacific region. In 2021, WALNUT was reassigned to Pensacola, Florida, following a major midlife overhaul. The cutter continues to play a vital role in supporting Coast Guard missions in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding waters.
Historical Facts
• 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.
