US. Coast Guard Cutter Mesquite – Lake Superior U.S. Coast Guard Cutter – Seagoing Buoy Tender (Wlb-180 Class) Shipwreck (1989)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: USCGC Mesquite (WLB-305)
• Type: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter – Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB-180 class)
• Year Built: 1943
• Builder: Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Company, Duluth, Minnesota
• Dimensions: 180 ft (54.9 m) length; 37 ft (11.3 m) beam; 12 ft (3.7 m) draft
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 25 m / 82 ft
• Location: Keystone Bay, off Keweenaw Peninsula
• Coordinates: 47° 23.440' N 87° 44.530' W
• Official Number: WLB-305
• Original Owners: United States Coast Guard

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

USCGC Mesquite was a 180-foot Iris-class seagoing buoy tender. Built with a steel hull and diesel-electric propulsion, she was designed for year-round navigation aid deployment, icebreaking, firefighting, and rescue duties on the Great Lakes.

Description

Commissioned in 1943, Mesquite served during WWII in the Pacific and then operated from Sault Ste. Marie, MI. On December 4, 1989, while recovering buoys, she grounded on a shoal off Keweenaw Point. Unable to be salvaged due to severe winter storms, she was later declared a total loss.

History

In July 1990, Mesquite was intentionally scuttled as an artificial reef and dive site in Keystone Bay. Her final depth ranges from 82 to 112 feet, resting upright and largely intact within the Keweenaw Underwater Preserve.

Significant Incidents

• Grounded on a shoal off Keweenaw Point on December 4, 1989, while recovering buoys.
• Declared a total loss due to inability to salvage amidst severe winter storms.

Final Disposition

Mesquite’s wreck location was designated and placed intentionally; it is not a lost wreck. Her position is maintained by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and local dive groups.

Current Condition & Accessibility

All 50 crew survived with minor injuries. No casualties reported. The site lies in preserved waters; artifact removal is prohibited. Divers are encouraged to practice no-touch documentation methods and to leave the site better than they found it.

Resources & Links

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For divers, the USCGC Mesquite offers a unique opportunity to explore a significant piece of maritime history while adhering to ethical diving practices. Remember to leave only bubbles and take only memories.