Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= NOTICE TO USERS - These files are protected by the The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. Information contained herein is provided for research purposes and may be freely linked to. Copying for redistribution or presentation by any person, persons or organization is not allowed without the written permission of the author/submitter. Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: USCGC Mesquite OTHER NAME(s): - OFFICIAL NO: WLB-305 DATE OF LOSS: 4 December 1989 CAUSE OF LOSS: Grounded LOCATION: Lake Superior, off Keweenaw Point RIG TYPE: Buoy Tender HULL TYPE: Steel BUILDER: Marine Ironworks & Shipbuilding, Duluth, MN., 1942 OWNER(S): U.S. Government MASTER: Lt. Cmdr. J. R. Lynch TONNAGE: 1,025 t. DIMENSIONS: 180 x 37 CASUALTIES: 0 MESQUITE, out of Charlevoix, hit a submerged ledge at about 2:30 a.m. while on routine buoy maintenance. After attempts to free her failed the order was given to abandon ship. MESQUITE had been covering for USCGC SUNDEW, which was in drydock for repairs, and was swapping the summer navigational buoy with a winter buoy when the incident occurred. With a storm approaching efforts to remove MESQUITE from her rocky perch were postponed. Strong waves over the weekend bashed her against the rock ledge tearing more holes in her hull, breaking her rudder and toppling her mast. Her diesel fuel was pumped out by a Corps of Engineers barge and her tanks filled with water to provide stability. The additional damage from the storm was so extensive that she was declared a total loss. In July, 1990 she was moved to Bete Grise Bay and intentionally sunk in 117 feet of water so that she could be visited by recreational divers. ======================================================================== Sources: Investigation Report - USCGC MESQUITE NOAA Incident News - 7, 8 & 12 December 1989 Ludington Daily News - 4 & 12 December 1989