Neah Bay
The CGC Neah Bay WTGB-105
The CGC Neah Bay assumed duties of the CGC Kaw after her decommissioning in Cleveland Ohio.
The Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay (WTGB-105)
By - Erik WoodSpecificationsThe CGC Neah Bay is a Bay Class multi-purpose Coast Guard Cutter
Displacement: 662 tons - Length: 140 feet - Beam: 37.5 feet
Power plant: Two Fairbanks diesel engines - Maximum Range: 4,000 miles
Maximum Speed: 14.7 knots - Armament: Two M60 Machine guns
Icebreaking capability: 18-20 inches - Primary Missions: Ice Operations, Search and Rescue, Pollution Response, Aids to Navigation, Law Enforcement
Crew: 17 Personnel (3 Officers, 14 Enlisted) - Commissioned: 1981
Homeport: Cleveland, OH - Built at Tacoma Boat building, Tacoma, WA
The Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay is the 5th in the Bay Class of ice breaking tugs. The Neah Bay is home ported in Cleveland, OH and was the vessel that replaced the Kaw.
Neah Bay’s primary duty is domestic ice breaking. Assisting in keeping the many rivers of all 5 Great Lakes clear of ice and assisting the Great Lakes freighters in fueling the many power plants around the great lakes. During the winter breaks she is outfitted with a 10-ton bubbler, which pushes air through the hull and "lubricates" the hull to help push ice clear.
She also performs law enforcement duties and public affairs duties during the summer and fall months. These usually involve fisheries patrols on western Lake Erie for law enforcement and Detroit’s Freedom Festival and the annual big party in Put in Bay for public affairs.
She is also the Incident Command platform for major rescue operations on Lake Erie, including security for the annual Cleveland Air Show and during my tour, a couple of downed airplane’s.
