USCGC Elm (WLB-204)

The USCGC Elm (WLB-204) is a Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender operated by the United States Coast Guard. Her primary mission is to maintain aids to navigation, specifically buoys, ensuring safe passage for maritime traffic. The Elm is capable of servicing all classes of Coast Guard buoys, ranging from smaller harbor buoys to larger offshore navigational aids.

Beyond buoy tending, the Elm is also equipped to perform other Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement (including drug interdiction and fisheries enforcement), and environmental protection. The ship has a strengthened hull for icebreaking, allowing it to operate in colder climates and maintain waterways during winter months.

Elm, like other Juniper-class buoy tenders, is equipped with dynamic positioning systems, allowing it to maintain a precise position even in challenging wind and sea conditions, essential for accurate buoy placement and maintenance. The ship's crane and deck layout are optimized for efficient buoy handling. Crew accommodations are designed for extended deployments at sea. The Elm is typically homeported in a location strategic for servicing its assigned region of responsibility. Detailed specifications such as displacement, length, beam, and propulsion vary slightly between Juniper-class vessels, but generally adhere to a common design.