USCGC Henry Blake
USCGC Henry Blake (WLM-563) is a Keeper-class buoy tender of the U.S. Coast Guard, based in Everett, Washington. Its main job is to maintain navigation aids in Puget Sound and along Washington’s coast—80 lighted buoys, 39 unlighted buoys, and 65 shore-based aids. Secondary missions include marine environmental protection, search and rescue, and homeland security. Henry Blake serves in the Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
History and construction
- The Keeper-class vessels were funded starting in 1993, with options for several ships including Henry Blake.
- Built by Marinette Marine Corporation in Wisconsin, construction began in 1998.
- Launched on November 20, 1999, and commissioned for service on October 27, 2000.
- Henry Blake replaced USCGC Mariposa and is the thirteenth of fourteen Keeper-class ships.
Design and capabilities
- Length: 175 ft (53 m); beam: 36 ft (11 m); draft: 8 ft (2.4 m); displacement about 850 long tons when fully loaded.
- Hull built from welded steel with an ice belt for operating in cold, icy waters.
- Propulsion: two Caterpillar 3508 DITA diesels (total 2,000 hp) driving Ulstein Z-drives. No traditional rudder; back up by turning the Z-drives 180 degrees (tiller mode or Z-conn mode for maneuvering).
- Top speed: 12 knots. Range: about 2,000 nautical miles at 10 knots.
- Bow thruster: 500 hp for added maneuverability.
- Dynamic Positioning System ties the Z-drives and bow thruster together to hold position in currents and weather while working on buoys.
- Buoy deck space: 1,335 square feet (124 m²). A 42-foot (13 m) crane lifts buoys and anchors, with a lifting capacity of 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg).
- Power: three 285 kW generators plus a 210 kW emergency generator.
- Fuel: about 16,385 gallons of diesel, enabling long patrols between refueling.
- Water and waste: fresh water capacity around 7,339 gallons; multiple ballast and waste tanks.
- Crew: initially about 2 officers and 18 enlisted, with additional cutter support personnel; overall crew has varied over time.
Namesake and motto
- Named after Henry Blake, the first keeper of the New Dungeness Lighthouse near Port Angeles, Washington.
- Motto: “Keeper of the Tradition.”
Operations and capabilities on the water
- Primary jobs: tending and servicing buoys, replacing lights, solar cells, and radar transponders; inspecting moorings and anchors; and maintaining the mooring gear.
- The ship can lift heavy buoys and their anchors onto the deck for servicing and re-deployment.
- The ice belt and strengthened hull enable operations in ice-infested waters; the vessel can break through flat ice up to 9 inches thick at about 3 knots.
Notable missions and activity highlights
- June 2012: A yacht ablaze near Grays Harbor; Henry Blake helped coordinate rescue efforts leading to all aboard being rescued.
- January 2015: A small plane crashed in Hood Canal; Henry Blake assisted in the search.
- September 2016: A Kenmore Air floatplane crash near Lopez Island; all four occupants were rescued.
- August 2009: Assisted in cleaning up Tatoosh Island lighthouse gear and old equipment after automation.
- August 2022: Recovered more than 1,400 feet of nets from a sunken fishing vessel wreck near San Juan Island to reduce hazards and prevent fuel spills.
- 2012: Henry Blake became the first Coast Guard vessel to operate on a biofuel mix (50/50 conventional diesel and hydro-processed renewable diesel) as part of the Navy Great Green Fleet initiative.
Public access
- The Coast Guard has offered public tours of Henry Blake on several occasions, helping people learn about buoy tending and Coast Guard operations.
Summary
Henry Blake is a highly capable buoy tender designed to service navigation aids safely and efficiently, with advanced propulsion and positioning systems, a capable crane, and a crew trained for a range of missions beyond buoy tending. Its long service in the Puget Sound area helps keep vessels and mariners navigating Washington’s waters safely.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:59 (CET).