USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214)

USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214) is a 225 ft Juniper-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard.

A seagoing buoy tender, Hollyhock was built by Marinette Marine Corporation and launched on January 25, 2003. Hollyhock is currently assigned to Port Huron, Michigan as its home port. USCGC Hollyhock replaced the previous cutter stationed in Port Huron, the USCGC Bramble (WLB-392), which retired after 60 years of service. Hollyhock was named after a previous cutter of the same name that served the USCG from 1937 to 1982.

Hollyhock is designed as a multi-mission vessel, with its missions being aids to navigation, icebreaking, search and rescue, law enforcement, and marine environmental protection. Today, the Juniper tenders conduct almost as much law enforcement as aid to navigation work.

Collision with the Mesabi Miner


On the morning of January 5, 2014 Hollyhock was breaking ice for the lake freighter Mesabi Miner approximately 22 nautical miles west of the Straits of Mackinac. She slowed after encountering harder ice and was struck in the stern by the much larger ore carrier. Both vessels sustained damage but there were no injuries, release of pollutants, or reports of flooding.

As of January 11, 2014 temporary repairs had been made to Hollyhock and her ice breaking duties resumed.