USCGC Thunder Bay is one of eight Bay Class Icebreaking Tugs presently in service with the US Coast Guard, and is homeported at USCG Station Rockland as a member of the US Coast Guard's 1st District.
They can proceed through fresh water ice up to 20 inches (51 cm) thick, and break ice up to 3 feet (0.91 m) thick, through ramming. The Bay class vessels use a low-pressure-air hull lubrication or bubbler system that forces air and water between the hull and ice; to reduce resistance against the hull, reducing horsepower requirements.
The Thunder Bay arrived at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland on Nov. 7, 2017, to begin service life extension work as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) program. The WTGB Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) project included significant system upgrades and improvements to the propulsion plant; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; installation of an engine-room fire-suppression system; boat launching davit replacement; Oily Water Separator replacement; stack exhaust configuration modifications; hull air-ice lubrication system; and crew habitability improvements to meet current standards (including removal of lead paint). |