USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30)

The USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a United States Coast Guard Great Lakes icebreaker and buoy tender. Homeported in Cheboygan, Michigan, she is responsible for maintaining aids to navigation and breaking ice on the Great Lakes to facilitate shipping during the winter months. Mackinaw is the third cutter to bear that name; the first was named after Fort Michilimackinac, a historical fort in Michigan.

Commissioned in 2006, the Mackinaw replaced the older Mackinaw (WAGB-83), which was decommissioned at the same time. The newer Mackinaw is a modern, diesel-electric powered vessel with significantly improved icebreaking capabilities and navigation technology compared to her predecessor. Her primary missions include icebreaking for the facilitation of commercial navigation, search and rescue, law enforcement, and aids to navigation maintenance.

The Mackinaw's icebreaking capabilities are crucial for maintaining shipping lanes open during the winter months, ensuring the continued flow of vital resources such as heating oil and raw materials. She works in conjunction with other Coast Guard assets and Canadian Coast Guard vessels to create and maintain ice-free passages for freighters and other vessels operating on the Great Lakes.

In addition to her icebreaking duties, the Mackinaw is responsible for deploying, retrieving, and maintaining over 1,200 buoys and other aids to navigation throughout the Great Lakes. These aids are critical for safe navigation and help to prevent accidents. She also performs law enforcement patrols, responding to distress calls and enforcing maritime laws and regulations. The Mackinaw is a vital asset for the Coast Guard and plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of the Great Lakes maritime community.