USCGC MACKINAW (WLBB-30)
The Coast Guard is required by law to maintain a heavy ice breaking capability on the Great Lakes to assist in keeping channels and harbors open to navigation in response to the reasonable demands of commerce to meet the winter shipping needs of industry. In addition to heavy icebreaking, the USCGC MACKINAW (WLBB 30) has state of the art systems and multi-mission capabilities that include maintenance of aids to navigation (ATON), search and rescue (SAR), as well as the ability to deploy an oil skimming system to respond to oil spill situations and environmental response. Our deployments will range from one day to roughly 3 weeks. The MACKINAW is typically busiest Fall through Spring. ATON retrieval in the Fall, ice breaking in the Winter, and ATON restore in the Spring. Summer is usually* the slowest time with the occasional patrol.
Unit Information Sheet