USCGC Thunder Bay (WTGB-108) is the eighth vessel of the Bay-class tugboat built in 1985 and operated by the United States Coast Guard.[1] The ship was named after a bay in the U.S. state of Michigan on Lake Huron.

Design

Main article: Bay-class tugboat

The 140-foot (43 m) Bay-class tugboats operated primarily for domestic ice breaking duties. They are named after American Bays and are stationed mainly in the northeast United States and the Great Lakes.

WTGBs use a low pressure air hull lubrication or bubbler system that forces air and water between the hull and ice. This system improves icebreaking capabilities by reducing resistance against the hull, reducing horsepower requirements.

Construction and career

Thunder Bay was built by the Bay City Marine Inc., in Tacoma, Washington in 1985. She was launched on 31 July 1985 and later commissioned in 1986.

On 1 May 2015, the ninth annual Appreciation Dinner was held by the Rockland Coast Guard City Committee, in which it honors the commanders and crews of the Rockland Station's three cutters, Thunder Bay, Abbie Burgess and Tackle were introduced, as well as the personnel at Coast Guard Station Rockland.[2]

On 4 February 2021, Thunder Bay conducted a icebreaking mission at the Penobscot River.[3] On 18 June, the ship finished the In-Service Vessel Sustainment program and departed Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland.[4]

Awards

Transportation 9-11 Ribbon

Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation

Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award

Coast Guard Unit Commendation

Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation

Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation

Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation

National Defense Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon

Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon