TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The U.S. Coast Guard gathered at Blackthorn Memorial site in St. Petersburg on Friday to mark 42 years since the tragedy. Well deliver the latest news and information you need to know every weekday morning. Though collision was imminent, initial damage was not extensive. The cutter eventually sank into the water.\r\rTwenty-seven crew members working on Blackthorn were rescued during the incident, while 23 others died that day.\r\rEvery year on Jan. 28, different communities and groups come together to remember the lives lost after the collision in Tampa Bay. The anchor became embedded in the Blackthorn's hull and ripped open the port side above the water line. 27 crew members survived. courtesy of Wikipedia The U.S.C.G. As our nations Coast Guard, you courageously head out on dark and stormy nights so that others may live. Propulsion: 1 electric motor Even given all of those factors, the initial collision between the two ships wasnt catastrophic. On Monday, it was the number 40. Flores statue is the first in the monument to resemble a particular person. Today we remember and honor his sacrifice and all the lives lost during this terrible accident. 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 in 2012, the Coast Guard dubbed a vessel the Coast Guard Cutter William Flores. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. An Iris-class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. But I put it in Gods hands. [5][6] In 2000 he was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Medal, the service's highest award for heroism in peacetime. Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation. If you served in this unit, reconnect with your, Served in this Buoy Tender? [1] [2] [3] An Iris -class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. As the Blackthorn headed out to Mobile, Alabama and then on to Galveston, Texas and the Capricorn in toward Weedon Island, lights from a nearby cruise ship may have made it difficult for the two ships crews to see each other until it was too late. 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. However, Capricorn's anchor was ready to be let go. 1990- The President's Report on Polar Icebreaker Requirements has indicated a national need for three polar icebreakers operated by the Coast Guard plus one ice capable research vessel leased by the National Science Foundation. We cherish and honor the spirit, sacrifice and service of the Blackthorn crew. All but one of the original tenders, USCGCIronwood(WLB-297), were built in Duluth. To submit applications for TAMPA Purple Hearts, please contact Ms. Nora Chidlow, Coast Guard Archivist, at nora.l.chidlow@uscg.mil or 202-559 . His family was presented with the Medal on 28 January 2000, the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. Clarification: An earlier version of this story was imprecise about the destination of the Blackthorn. Official website This page was last edited on 21 July 2021, at 17:41 (UTC). The brightly lit passenger vessel obscured the ability of the crews of Blackthorn and Capricorn to see each other. [9] In May 2021, Flores was awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor for his actions on USCGC Blackthorn.[10]. As of July 2022: 5 cutters ordered; 10 more optioned; 25 cutters total in program of record[1][2], Cyclone-class patrol ships on loan from the United States Navy. The Alexander Hamilton was one of the newest ships in the service. practice will most likelv place in jeopardy not onlv the Coast Guard vessel and crew, hut also other vessels which the Coast Guard vessel might meet in the same waterway, such Bruce Lafond was drowned when the Blackthorn capsized. Unable to make radio contact with the tender, Capricorns pilot blew two short whistle blasts to have the ships pass starboard-to-starboard. It tragically sank at 8:20PM on January 28, 1980, at the entrance to Tampa Bay in Florida, near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The Blackthorn lost 23 of its 50 crew . (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. Located in 80 feet of water, this 180 foot Coast Guard Tender lies about 20 miles offshore in the Pinellas Artificial Reef Site #2, and is broken into 2 large sections that lie upside down. What: Coast Guard commemorates 40th anniversary of Blackthorn Tragedy, Location: Blackthorn Memorial Site FL-55, the southbound Pinellas County side of the Sunshine Skyway rest area, St. Petersburg, Florida 33752. Although 27 crewmen . References Their commitment and dedication, we will never forget," Keynote speaker VADM Steven D. Poulin said. I was 9 years old. Thursday marked the 41st anniversary of the Blackthorn colliding with the tanker vessel Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980, resulting in the deaths of . Eighteen is how old Flores nephew Bobby Flores is now. It is a privilege to be here with the survivors, families, friends and Coast Guard men and women at the 40th Anniversary of the tragic sinking of Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn. One of the 23 crew members lost that day was 19-year-old Seaman . Forty years ago, 23 of these heroes lost their lives in the line of dutybut they have not, nor will they ever, pass from our memory. All of that is according to two government reports. USCGC Ironwood (WAGL-297/WLB-297) was a Mesquite-class sea-going buoy tender operated by the United States Coast Guard. Primary responsibility for the collision was placed on the Blackthorn's captain, Lt. Capricorn began to turn left, but this course would not allow Capricorn and Blackthorn to pass port-to-port, as the rules of navigation generally required. Meanwhile, the tanker Capricorn, owned by Kingston Shipping Company and operated by Apex Marine Corporation of New York, was standing (traveling with right-of-way) into the bay. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 . Meanwhile the tanker Capricorn, owned by Kingston Shipping Company and operated by Apex Marine Corporation of New York, was standing (traveling with right-of-way) into the bay. Meanwhile the tanker Capricorn was standing into the bay. The vessels hit almost head-on, with the Blackthorn running down the port side of the much larger tanker. 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. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla Exactly 42 years ago, 23 crew members aboard the U.S Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn lost their lives after colliding with a tanker in Tampa Bay. And into the history of our Nation. His heroic role was initially overlooked by the two official reports by the Coast Guard and the NTSB, but was later given the recognition he deserved. He doesnt remember hearing very much about Uncle Billy growing up, even though his family hung a picture of him on the wall. [1][2][3] An official website of the United States government. 2 depth-charge tracks As the Blackthorn capsized, Flores stayed aboard, throwing life jackets to his fellow seamen. Earlier they had been overtaken by the Russian passenger ship Kazakhstan, Blackthorn pulled to the side to allow her to pass, when requested, and then continued almost in mid-channel. The marine board found evidence of violation of various navigation laws on the parts of Capricorn's master and pilot. The USCGC Blackthorn collided with the Liberian Tanker "Capricorn". His heroic role was initially overlooked by the two official reports by the Coast Guard and the NTSB, but was later given the recognition he deserved. Skip past search results. Having just been overtaken by a brightly lit cruise ship, the Blackthorn had maneuvered into the center of the . External links. The crew of USCGC JOHN SCHEURMAN continues the streak of excellence in the Arabian Sealeading yet another U.S. Coast Guard interdiction of illicit Liked by Fernando Gutierrez Laurent, became the His actions saved a number of lives during the accident. Letsgetstarted. It is sorted by length down to 65', the minimum length of a USCG cutter. 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. -Copyright (C) 2003-2011 TogetherWeServed - 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. It tore into the cutters hull, then pulled the ship down. His family was presented with the Medal on 28 January 2000, the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. And, perhaps most poignantly, the number 18. After this loss of life, critical improvements were made to Service readiness, training, and safety that still echo across the Service today. The USCG Cutter Blackthorn (WAGL-391) was a 180-foot Iris Class Seagoing Buoy Tender. (On Tuesdays anniversary, the Coast Guard will remember the tragedy with its own event.) 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. Example video title will go here for this video. Although 27 crewmen survived the collision, 23 perished. Frye, a Blackthorn crew member for just 12 days, was below deck on the evening of Jan. 28, 1980, when the . Blackthorn (WLB-391)black is one of the most popular wreck dives in the Tampa area. Exactly 42 years ago, 23 crew members aboard the U.S Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn lost their lives after colliding with a tanker in Tampa Bay.\r\rThe U.S. Coast Guard held a service Friday to honor the lives lost at the Blackthorn Memorial site in St. Petersburg.\r\rAt approximately 8:21 p.m. on Jan. 28, 1980, USCGC Blackthorn collided with the U.S. tankship Capricorn in Tampa Bay waters near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the Coast Guard explains.\r\rThe port anchor of Capricorn was then reportedly lodged into Blackthorn's port side as a result of the collision.\r\rMomentum from the two vessels caused the Capricorn's port anchor chain to be stretched, capsizing Blackthorn. 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. Blackthorn was one of 39 original 180-foot (55m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942-1944. Blackthorn was 180'x37'x12' with a maximum cruising speed of 13 knots powered by a single screw. 1989- USCGC Northwind decommissioned. There is no greater example of service. The anchor of the CAPRICORN became snagged and embedded in the port side of the BLACKTHORN. Capricorn subsequently ran aground north of the channel and Blackthorn sank in the channel. Every year on Jan. 28, different communities and groups come together to remember the lives lost after the collision in Tampa Bay. 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. UPDATED 6:08 PM ET Jan. 28, 2020. Seaman Apprentice Flores died aboard Blackthorn. All but one of the original tenders, USCGCIronwood(WLB-297), were built in Duluth. Concurring with the marine board's determination of the cause, the Commandant emphasized in his "Action" that the failure of the persons in charge of both vessels to ascertain the intentions of the other through the exchange of appropriate whistle signals was the primary contributing cause. Killed in a Coast Guard accident, aboard the USCGC Blackthorne, United States Coast Guard Cutter, WLB-391, in Tampa Bay, Florida. 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. Uncle Billy served in the Coast Guard. Mobile Layout Each of them is forever a part of the Coast Guards legacy. Capricorn began to turn left, but this would not allow the ships to pass port-to-port. I have found no finer public servants anywhere in the United States Government. 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. 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. The U.S. Coast Guard held a service Friday to honor the lives lost at the Blackthorn Memorial site in St. Petersburg. Wartime: 1 3"/50 caliber single mount One of the best known dive sites around Tampa and St Petersburg is the United States Coast Guard cutter Blackthorn (U.S.C.G. Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the USCGC Blackthorn colliding with the tanker vessel Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980. NAME: MEMBER STATUS LM denotes Life Member . The Blackthorn collision has forever changed the Coast Guard and provided lessons on risk management and training. . USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot (55m) 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. On January 28th, 1980, the USCGC Blackthorn was outbound from Tampa Bay, having just completed a total refit, as the tanker Capricorn was inbound. On Thursday, January 28, 2010, Lodge Member Tom Allor represented Detroit Lodge No. In 19791980, Blackthorn underwent a major overhaul in Tampa, Florida. 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. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. January 28 marks 40 years since the USCGC Blackthorn sank, killing 23 Coast Guard members. Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the Blackthorn Cutter colliding with the tanker vessel Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980, resulting in the deaths of 23 of the 50 Blackthorn crewmembers. An Iris-class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. Unable to make radio contact with Blackthorn, Capricorn's pilot blew two short whistle blasts to have the ships pass starboard-to-starboard. In fact, he is the epitome of the motto Semper Paratus, and I am proud to serve our Nation with him. Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation, 8,000nmi (15,000km; 9,200mi) at 13kn (24km/h; 15mph), This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 05:34. 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. 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. For years after the accident, Clutter pushed for the Coast Guard to honor Flores. Ironwood participated in the Fleet Week celebrations in Portland, Oregon in 2017. She now sails with a crew of sixty students and six instructors. In January 1980 the Blackthorn collided with the tanker Capricorn at the mouth of Tampa and sunk, killing 23 of her crew after the Capricorn's anchor dropped into . Displacement: 935 long tons (950t) Installed power: 2 Cooper-Bessemerdiesel engines On 28 January 1980, she collided with the tanker SS Capricorn. (Some contend that the brightly lit passenger vessel obscured the ability of the crews of Blackthorn and Capricorn to see each other.). A memorial inscribed with the names of the crewmembers that perished now stands two miles north of the accident site. 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. USCGC White Sumac (WLM-540) at anchor as Coast Guard and Navy divers assemble on the deck of the buoy tender to prepare to dive on the sunken cutter USCGC Blackthorn. Families of crew members of the Coast Guard . Bobby Flores knows how deep service runs in his family. Built at the New York Navy Yard, this twin-screw, geared-steam-turbine-propelled cutter was commissioned in March 1937. Several crew members who had just reported aboard tried to escape and in the process trapped themselves in the engine room. Blackthorn sunk at the mouth of Tampa Bay, 28 January 1980. He drowned about 15 feet away from me, remembered Jeff Huse, a survivor of the Blackthorn. Speed: 13kn(24km/h; 15mph) maximum Richard Flores, one year older than Billy, has seen his son Bobby, a high school senior in Texas, grow older than his heroic brother. Her normal sailing complement is 16 personnel. In October 2010, it was announced that the third new Sentinel-class fast response cutter, a 154 foot patrol boat, would be named for Flores.[7]. There were similar findings on the part of Blackthorn's commanding officer and officer of the deck. Like the smaller Marine Protector class she is equipped with a stern launching ramp. In 1979-1980, Blackthorn underwent a major overhaul in Tampa, Florida. Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1980, Sources cite both "Willy" and "Billy" as nicknames, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation, "Skipper Pleads Fifth Amendment; Attorney Requests Immunity", "Getting his due Coast Guard hero receives honor posthumously", "New Coast Guard cutter bears name of Benbrook man who saved others", "Mexican American hero of WWI up for Texas' highest military honor", National Park Service Report on the 180-foot (55m) buoy tenders, "U.S. Coast Guard Sea-going & Coastal Buoy Tenders, 1939-2000", Article about 20th Anniversary of the sinking, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BLACKTHORN, Galveston, Galveston County, TX, List of cutters of the United States Coast Guard, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USCGC_Blackthorn&oldid=1149906296, Historic American Engineering Record in Texas, Articles lacking in-text citations from January 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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