Every year on Jan. 28, different communities and groups come together to remember the lives lost after the collision in Tampa Bay. She served in San Pedro for several years before being brought into the gulf coast region to serve in Mobile, Alabama then transferred to Galveston, Texas for the final years of her service until the accident. Every day, the members of DHS face inherent risk in their missions. Like the rest of the service's aging fleet, Blackthorn underwent numerous overhauls during its. [1] [2] [3] An Iris -class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. Looking for U.S. government information and services? SA Flores paid the ultimate price after locating the life jacket locker, ensuring all survivors in the water received a life jacket, and staying with the sinking ship determined to save the lives of his shipmates trapped in the sinking hull. Although 27 crewmen . All but one of the original tenders, USCGCIronwood(WLB-297), were built in Duluth. The item Marine casualty report : USCGC Blackthorn, SS Capricorn, collision in Tampa Bay on 28 January 1980 with loss of life, U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Board of Investigation report and commandant's action represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Indiana State Library. Today marks the 41st anniversary of the sinking of the 180 buoy tender, US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) BLACKTHORN. 2 mousetrap launchers (1944). An Iris class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. As a result of the impact, the port anchor of Capricornbecame imbedded in Blackthorn'sport side. Several crew members who had just reported aboard tried to escape and in the process trapped themselves in the engine room. On January 28, 1980, the USCGC Blackthorn collided with a tanker in Tampa Bay, Florida.Seaman Apprentice William Flores, just eighteen years old and a year out of boot camp, stayed on board as the cutter sank, strapping the life jacket locker open with his belt, giving his own life jacket to those struggling in the water, and giving aid to those wounded on board. The anchor became embedded in the Blackthorn's hull and ripped open the port side above the water line. Blackthorn sunk at the mouth of Tampa Bay, 28 January 1980. One of 40 180-foot buoy tenders built during World War II, Blackthorn was commissioned in 1944. Additionally, Admiral Hayes pointed out that attempts to establish a passing agreement by using only radiotelephone communications failed to be an adequate substitute for exchanging proper whistle signals. A lock James has been coming to the remembrance ceremony for 42 years. 27 crew members survived. There is a memorial service being held in St. Petersburg, Florida this morning for the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn. The Blackthorn collision has forever changed the Coast Guard and provided lessons on risk management and training. As Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, I have the great honor to lead the 240,000 men and women of this Department. He doesnt remember hearing very much about Uncle Billy growing up, even though his family hung a picture of him on the wall. . The Alexander Hamilton was initially stationed in Oakland, California and performed patrols to the Bering Sea. Beam: 37ft (11m) Blackthorn was one of 39 original 180-foot (55m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942 and 1944. Though collision was imminent, initial damage was not extensive. The anchor of the CAPRICORN became snagged and embedded in the port side of the BLACKTHORN. She currently serves as an artificial reef for recreational diving and fishing. Their commitment and dedication, we will never forget," Keynote speaker VADM Steven D. Poulin said. Twenty-seven crew members working on Blackthorn were rescued during the incident, while 23 others died that day. Earlier the cutter had been overtaken by the Kazakhstan, a Russian passenger ship. [5][6] In 2000 he was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Medal, the service's highest award for heroism in peacetime. His family was presented with the Medal on 28 January 2000, the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. The momentum of the two vessels caused Capricorn's anchor chain to become taut which resulted in the Blackthorn's capsizing. Citizenship And Immigration Services Ombudsman, This page was not helpful because the content, Acting Secretary Wolf Commemorates USCG Blackthorn Memorial. Blackthorn's preliminary design was completed by the United States Lighthouse Service and the final design was produced by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth. Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation. Her normal sailing complement is 16 personnel. Killed in a Coast Guard accident, aboard the USCGC Blackthorne, United States Coast Guard Cutter, WLB-391, in Tampa Bay, Florida. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. January 28 marks 40 years since the USCGC Blackthorn sank, killing 23 Coast Guard members. These matters were referred to the commanders of the Seventh and Eighth Coast Guard Districts for further investigation and appropriate action. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - On January 28, 1980, the Coast Guard buoy tender Blackthorn passed under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the black of night. In the end the primary responsibility for the collision was placed with Commander Sepel as he had permitted an inexperienced junior officer to conn the ship in an unfamiliar waterway with heavy traffic. Blackthorn Wreck Tampa Wiki USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tender (WLB) which sank in 1980 in a collision near the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge, resulting in 23 crew member fatalities. Its still in service today. The captain, LCDR George Sepel was on the bridge, but ENS John Ryan had the conn. All of that is according to two government reports. But I put it in Gods hands. This 180 foot long ship was finished on May 21, 1943 in Duluth, Minnesota and first serviced as a sea going buoy tender maintaining navigational aids. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. With the officer of the deck confused in regard to the standard operating procedure, Blackthorn's captain issued orders for evasive action. A freak set of circumstances led to catastrophe on the evening of Jan. 28, 1980. The captain was on the bridge, but a junior officer had the conn. Having been overtaken by the Russian passenger ship Kazakhstan, Blackthorn continued almost in mid-channel. In 19791980, Blackthorn underwent a major overhaul in Tampa, Florida. An Iris-class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. Class & type: Iris For now, the number is 13. 4 20 millimeter/80 caliber Thirty years ago tonight, having just completed a 3 month overhaul, the Blackthorn was outward bound from Tampa Bay. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. 11 memorials. One day, his group hopes to include 24 statues in total, Jolly said. The remarks as prepared can be found below. The USCG Cutter Blackthorn (WAGL-391) was a 180-foot Iris Class Seagoing Buoy Tender. Twenty-seven of the 50 Blackthorn crew members were rescued. His father, Richard, served in the Air Force. Skip past search results. USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tender (WLB) which sank in 1980 in a collision near the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge, resulting in 23 crew member fatalities.An Iris-class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. While the Port of Tampa Bay has always been a valuable port, it is different than it was 40 years ago. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Six off-duty personnel who had mustered when they heard the collision alarm, were trapped inside the ship. Shortly after the collision, Blackthorn capsized, killing 23 of her crew. Indeed, it has grown into the largest port in the region. Shortly after the collision, Blackthorn capsized, killing 23 of her crew. Although 27 crewmen survived the collision, 23 perished. U.S. Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice William R. Flores was among those killed in the 1980 accident in the waters of Tampa Bay. Then, the 180-foot cutter sucked Flores into the depths of Tampa Bay. Ironwood participated in the Fleet Week celebrations in Portland, Oregon in 2017. (The Coast Guard Tug Association WILL NOT provide or "sell" its Member List and contact information to any other organization without proper authority) CGTA MEMBERSHIP. Blackthorn was initially assigned to the Great Lakes for ice-breaking duties, but after only a few months, she was reassigned to San Pedro, California and served in San Pedro for several years before being brought into the Gulf Coast region to serve in Mobile, Alabama then Galveston, Texas. 9,371 were here. The Commandant also acted on various safety recommendations made by the marine board concerning training and equipment aboard Coast Guard vessels, and navigation considerations in Tampa Bay. Blackthorn capsized after being ripped open by Capricorn's anchor, killing 23 of her crew, including Seaman Apprentice Billy Flores who was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Medal. Unable to make radio contact with Blackthorn, Capricorn's pilot blew two short whistle blasts to have the ships pass starboard-to-starboard. The port anchor of Capricorn was then reportedly lodged into Blackthorn's port side as a result of the collision. On 21 May 1943 the keel was laid, she was launched on 20 July 1943 and commissioned on 27 March 1944. Blackthorn was initially assigned to the Great Lakes for ice-breaking duties, but after only a few months, she was reassigned to San Pedro, California. SA Flores, who had been out of boot camp just one year, opened the life jacket locker as Blackthorn capsized, securing its hatch open with his belt, and made sure that his shipmates were able to access and use the life jackets. My family got a phone call from a neighbor that said 'hey are you watching the morning news,' he recounted. Thats how many years its been since the Coast Guard suffered the worst peacetime tragedy in its history. 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