USCGC Spar (WLB-403)

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USCGC Spar (WLB-403) was a 180-foot Iris-class seagoing buoy tender of the United States Coast Guard. Built in Duluth, Minnesota by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation, Spar was designed by the United States Lighthouse Service and finalized by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding. The keel was laid on September 13, 1943; she was launched on November 2, 1943 and commissioned on June 12, 1944. The hull and machinery cost $865,941. Spar was one of 39 seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942 and 1944; all were built in Duluth except USCGC Ironwood.

Notable service
- From May 18 to September 24, 1957, Spar and her sister ships Bramble and Storis became the first vessels to circumnavigate North America.
- In 1966, Spar conducted an oceanographic survey with port calls at Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and Ireland.

Decommissioned and fate
- Decommissioned on February 28, 1997 and sold at auction. After changing owners, she was acquired by the Northeastern Maritime Historical Foundation, which eventually sold the ship or parts to fund other projects.
- Spar’s main engines, generators, and other equipment were removed and sold to power another vessel. The hull was prepared and sunk in June 2004 in 100 feet of water, 30 miles off Morehead City, North Carolina, where she now serves as an artificial reef and dive site.

Key specifications
- Class & type: Iris-class buoy tender
- Displacement: 1,025 long tons
- Length/beam: 180 ft / 37 ft
- Propulsion: 2 × GM EMD 645 V8 diesel engines
- Speed: 13 knots
- Range: 8,000 nmi at 13 knots
- Complement: 45 enlisted, 8 officers
- Armament (wartime): 4 × 20 mm guns; 1 × 3"/50 caliber deck gun; 2 × depth charge racks; 2 × mousetraps
- Peacetime: Small arms