The U.S. Coast Guard parade of ships in Grand Haven, Mich., on Monday, July 29, 2024. The vessels will be docked in Coast Guard City USA until Sunday for the 100th anniversary of the Coast Guard Festival. (Joel Bissell, mlive.com/TNS)
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (Tribune News Service) — Thousands of people welcomed United States Coast Guard vessels into port at “Coast Guard City USA” for the 100th anniversary of the festival.
The oldest cutter on the Great Lakes, USCGC Buckthorn (WLI-642) out of Sault Ste. Marie, kicked off the U.S. Coast Guard parade of ships through the Grand River channel on Monday.
Flying overhead, eyes turned to the sky as a USCG HH-65 Dolphin helicopter slowly flew overhead.
Onlookers were surprised as Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker the Samuel Risley — hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, was the second ship to make its way to port. The impressive 228-foot vessel wasn’t on the initial lineup of ships.
USCGC Morro Bay (WTGB-106) out of Cleveland during the U.S. Coast Guard parade of ships in Grand Haven, Mich., on Monday, July 29, 2024. (Joel Bissell, mlive.com/TNS)
The 225-foot, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter SPAR (WLB-206) out of Duluth, Minn. concludes the U.S. Coast Guard parade of ships in Grand Haven, Mich., on Monday, July 29, 2024. (Joel Bissell, mlive.com/TNS)
Scenes from the U.S. Coast Guard parade of ships in Grand Haven, Mich., on Monday, July 29, 2024. (Joel Bissell, mlive.com/TNS)
USCGC Morro Bay (WTGB-106) out of Cleveland docks during the U.S. Coast Guard parade of ships in Grand Haven, Mich., on Monday, July 29, 2024. (Joel Bissell, mlive.com/TNS)
Children play in an old buoy at Escanaba Park as the USCGC Morro Bay docks during the U.S. Coast Guard parade of ships in Grand Haven, Mich., on Monday, July 29, 2024. (Joel Bissell, mlive.com/TNS)
The Risley was followed by two Bay class 140-foot vessels the USCGC Mobile Bay (WTGB-103) out of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. and USCGC Morro Bay (WTGB-106) out of Cleveland. The two vessels are primarily used for ice breaking on the Great Lakes.
The parade of ships conclude with the 225-foot, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter SPAR (WLB-206) out of Duluth, Minn.
The ships will be docked at Escanaba Park through Saturday. They are set to leave Grand Haven on Sunday.
The ships will be open to the public for tours all week.
Here is the remaining tour schedule:
Tuesday, July 30: 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31: 10 a.m.-noon, 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 1: 10 a.m.-noon, 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 2: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3: 10 a.m.-noon, 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
More information at Coast Guard Festival 2024 can be found at coastguardfest.org.
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