USCGC Alder (WLB-216)

The USCGC Alder (WLB-216) is a Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender of the United States Coast Guard. Her primary mission is to maintain aids to navigation, but she also performs other duties, including search and rescue, law enforcement, homeland security, and environmental protection.

Alder is homeported in Duluth, Minnesota and operates primarily in the Great Lakes. She is responsible for maintaining over 250 buoys and other aids to navigation throughout the region, ensuring the safe passage of commercial and recreational vessels.

As a seagoing buoy tender, Alder is equipped with a dynamic positioning system, allowing her to maintain her position accurately even in challenging weather conditions. She also has a crane and other equipment necessary for handling and servicing buoys.

The Alder's hull is reinforced for icebreaking, allowing her to operate year-round in the Great Lakes, even during the winter months when ice conditions can be severe. She participates in Operation Coal Shovel, a program dedicated to keeping shipping lanes open throughout the winter season.

The USCGC Alder is named after the alder tree, following the tradition of naming buoy tenders after trees and shrubs. She was commissioned in 2004 and continues to serve as an important asset to the U.S. Coast Guard in the Great Lakes region. Her motto is "Great Ships, Great Lakes".