USCG Cutter OBION, a River Buoy Tender, maintaining navigational buoys on the Ohio river at Louisville, Kentucky.
A buoy tender is a type of vessel used to maintain and replace navigational buoys. The name is also used for someone who works on such a vessel and maintains buoys.
The United States Coast Guard uses buoy tenders to accomplish one of its primary missions of maintaining all U. S. Aids to Navigation (ATON).
The Canadian Coast Guard uses multi-use vessels (icebreaker and navigation aid) with the buoy tender platform.
CCGS buoy tender Samuel Risley
Types of CG buoy tenders[]
US Coast Guard
- 240' USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30)
- 225' USCG Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB)
- 175' USCG coastal buoy tender (WLM)
- 100' USCG inland buoy tender (WLI)
- 100' USCG inland construction tender (WLIC)
- 75' River Buoy Tender (WLR)
- 75' Inland Construction Tender (WLIC)
- 65' River Buoy Tender (WLR)
- 65' Inland Buoy Tender (WLI)
Canadian Coast Guard
- 272' CCGS Ann Harvey
- 272' CCGS George R. Pearkes
- 228' CCGS Earl Grey
- 228' CCGS Samuel Risley
- 198' CCGS Alexander Henry
- 180' CGS Aberdeen
- 179' CCGS Simcoe
- 180' CGS Simcoe (1909)
- 144' CCGS C.P. Edwards
- 125' CCGS Brant
- 66' CCGS Cove Isle
Additional reading[]
The original article can be found at Buoy tender and the edit history here.