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. Early in my tenure as MCPOCG, I attended the memorial gathering for the USCGC BLACKTHORN on January 28, 2000, which commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the tragic accident. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. It tore into the cutters hull, then pulled the ship down. The marine board found evidence of violation of various navigation laws on the parts of Capricorn's master and pilot. Before Mondays ceremony, Bobby Flores read about the Blackthorn on Wikipedia. All but one of the original tenders, USCGCIronwood(WLB-297), were built in Duluth. By kjfitz @ 2010-12-06 12:05:55. Visit http://www.blackthornclub.com/ for more information. The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral John B. Hayes, approved the report of the marine board of investigation on the collision between Blackthorn and Capricorn. Blackthorn's preliminary design was completed by the United States Lighthouse Service and the final design was . The anchor became embedded in the Blackthorn's hull and ripped open the port side above the water line. However, Capricorn's anchor was ready to be let go. 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. General characteristics Class & type: Iris Displacement: 935 long tons (950 t) Length: 180 ft (55 m) Beam: 37 ft (11 m) Unable to make radio contact with Blackthorn, Capricorn's pilot blew two short whistle blasts to have the ships pass starboard-to-starboard. Additionally, Admiral Hayes pointed out that attempts to establish a passing agreement by using only radiotelephone communications failed to be an adequate substitute for exchanging proper whistle signals. Memorials inscribed with the names of the crewmembers who perished stand 2 miles north of the collision site and on Base Galveston. 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. 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. Commander Sepel, as he had made an inexperienced junior officer (Ensign Ryan) officer of the deck and allowed him to navigate the ship through an unfamiliar waterway with heavy traffic. [1][2][3] An Iris-class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. For now, the number is 13. I was 9 years old. These matters were referred to the commanders of the Seventh and Eighth Coast Guard Districts for further investigation and appropriate action. The List of United States Coast Guard Cutters is a listing of all cutters to have been commissioned by the United States Coast Guard during the history of that service. Blackthorn was one of 39 original 180-foot (55m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942-1944. 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. And 23: the number of lives lost aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn after it collided with a passing 605-foot oil tanker in the waters of Tampa Bay. USCGC Blackthorn memorial. As a result of the collision, the BLACKTHORN was cpasized and sank, and 23 Coast Guardsmen were drowned. And in 2012, the Coast Guard dubbed a vessel the Coast Guard Cutter William Flores. On Jan. 28, 1980, the USCGC Blackthorn, a 180-foot seagoing buoy tender, collided with a tanker and sank near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. 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]. A memorial inscribed with the names of the crewmembers that perished now stands two miles north of the accident site. Six off-duty personnel who had mustered when they heard the collision alarm were trapped inside the ship. Cemetery Visibility: Public. But George's life was cut short on Jan. 28, 1980 when the USCGC Blackthorn collided with a tanker and sank in the mouth of Tampa Bay. The force of the much larger ship pulling on it, caused Blackthorn to tip on her side until she suddenly capsized. U.S. Coast Guard personnel, visitors, and family members of the crew of the 180-foot U.S. Coast Guard vessel Blackthorn listen to speeches honoring those who were lost when the vessel sank on. 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. USCGC William Flores is a Sentinel-class cutter scheduled to serve in Miami, Florida upon her commissioning. Unable to make radio contact with the tender, Capricorns pilot blew two short whistle blasts to have the ships pass starboard-to-starboard. The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral John B. Hayes, approved the report of the marine board of investigation on the collision between Blackthorn and Capricorn. Capricorn began to turn left, but this would not allow the ships to pass port-to-port. [1][2][3] 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. Blackthorn sunk at the mouth of Tampa Bay, 28 January 1980. Today marks the 41st anniversary of the sinking of the 180 buoy tender, US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) BLACKTHORN. Currently, the Blackthorn is broken into two pieces and is a very popular dive and fishing site. One of the best known dive sites around Tampa and St Petersburg is the United States Coast Guard cutter Blackthorn (U.S.C.G. An Iris-class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. SA Flores, who had been out of boot camp just one year, opened the life jacket locker as Blackthorn capsized, securing its hatch open with his belt, and made sure that his shipmates were able to access and use the life jackets. After this loss of life, critical improvements were made to Service readiness, training, and safety that still echo across the Service today. From the official U.S. Coast Guard history on Blackthorn: "Blackthorn was outward bound from Tampa Bay on the night of 28 January 1980. @ 27.648589, -82.676007. Sources cite both "Willy" and "Billy" as nicknames, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FuQnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PVoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5487%2C4950715, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FuQnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PVoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6801,5003607, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UWdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qFgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5047,2072390&hl=en, "Skipper Pleads Fifth Amendment; Attorney Requests Immunity", http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UmdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qFgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7108,2497103&hl=en, "Getting his due Coast Guard hero receives honor posthumously", http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF9298B7BF1FC5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM, http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2F2011%2F11%2F26%2F3552733%2Fnew-coast-guard-cutter-bears-name.html&date=2011-12-02, National Park Service Report on the 180-foot (55m) buoy tenders, "U.S. Coast Guard Sea-going & Coastal Buoy Tenders, 1939-2000", http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/WLB_Photo_Index.asp, Article about 20th Anniversary of the sinking, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation, Duluth, Minnesota, 8,000nmi (15,000km; 9,200mi) at 13kn (24km/h; 15mph). The USCGC Blackthorn collided with the Liberian Tanker "Capricorn". Twenty-three of the Blackthorn's 50 crewmembers lost their lives during the Coast Guard's worst peacetime disaster. Blackthorn's captain, Lieutenant Commander George Sepel had departed the bridge to investigate a problem with the newly installed propulsion shaft. While the Port of Tampa Bay has always been a valuable port, it is different than it was 40 years ago. [1][2][3] The momentum of the two vessels caused Capricorn's anchor chain to become taut which resulted in the Blackthorn's capsizing. [4] The cutter was raised for the investigation, and was scuttled in the Gulf of Mexico after the investigation was complete. 7 and the Propeller Club - Port of Detroit at a memorial service held on the 30th Anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn disaster. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. [1][2][3] Richard Flores, one year older than Billy, has seen his son Bobby, a high school senior in Texas, grow older than his heroic brother. It was a typical day at school. 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. NAME: MEMBER STATUS LM denotes Life Member . At 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. Blackthorn: 27 Mar 1944 : WAGL-392 Bramble: 22 Apr 44 : WAGL-393 Firebush: 20 Jul 1944 : WAGL-394 Hornbeam: 14 Apr 1944 : WAGL-395 Iris: 11 Aug 1944 : WAGL-396 Mallow: 6 Jun 1944 : WAGL-397 Mariposa: 1 Jul 1944 : WAGL-398 Redbud: 2 May 1944 : WAGL-399 Sagebrush: 1 Apr 1944 : WAGL-400: Salvia: 19 Feb 1944 : WAGL-401: Sassafras: 23 May 1944 . At least one of the passing Capricorn and Blackthorn ships was too close to the center of the channel near the Sunshine Skyway bridge. 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. Killed in a Coast Guard accident, aboard the USCGC Blackthorne, United States Coast Guard Cutter, WLB-391, in Tampa Bay, Florida. A Coast Guard Academy graduate, Sepel was among 114 lieutenant commanders . These matters were referred to the commanders of the Seventh and Eighth Coast Guard Districts for further investigation and appropriate action. Perhaps he gave his own life preserver to a colleague in need. 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. Mobile Layout The sea, while often characterized as mysterious and majestic, can be just as dark and treacherous under any circumstances. Like the rest of the service's aging fleet, Blackthorn underwent numerous overhauls during its. Earlier the cutter had been overtaken by the Kazakhstan, a Russian passenger ship. or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. (LockA locked padlock) Meanwhile the tanker Capricorn was standing into the bay. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 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. Thats how many years its been since the Coast Guard suffered the worst peacetime tragedy in its history. The board determined that the cause of the collision was the failure of both vessels to keep well to the side of the channel which lay on each ship's starboard (right) sides. 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. - I/ For more detailed information read, "Marine Accident Report--Collision of USCGC BLACKTHORN and U.S. Tankship CAPRICORN, Tampa, Florida, Januarv 28, 1980 (N TSR . 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. Capricorn began to turn left, but this would not allow the ships to pass port-to-port. In 2000, the service heeded Clutters calls, awarding William Flores posthumously with the Coast Guard Medal, the forces highest peacetime service award. On 28 January 1980, while leaving Tampa Bay after the overhaul, she collided with the tanker SS Capricorn. On January 28th, 1980, the USCGC Blackthorn was outbound from Tampa Bay, having just completed a total refit, as the tanker Capricorn was inbound. Tampa, Florida (FL), US. Its still in service today. His actions saved a number of lives during the accident. I could not think of a better way to honor and remember the 23 sailors we lost, than to introduce a man who I have gotten to know well over the last 2 years, a man who I respect, and a man who is a selfless leader to our Coast Guard men and women. As a result of the impact, the port anchor of Capricornbecame imbedded in Blackthorn'sport side. USCGC Blackthorn is raised from Tampa Bay shipping channel Watch on The Blackthorn was 180 feet by 37 feet with a maximum cruising speed of 13 knots. 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. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - On January 28, 1980, the Coast Guard buoy tender Blackthorn passed under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the black of night. 'This is tough': 3 killed, including 2 young children, in Hillsborough County fire, Hillsborough deputy helps rescue father, daughter stranded in water for almost an hour, 10 Weather: Showers early Monday then clearing skies, FWC: Boat captain killed by lightning strike in Brevard County, It's been 41 years since the deadly Blackthorn collision in Tampa Bay, Memorial service honors victims of 1980 Blackthorn tragedy. USCG Blackthorn. 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 captain, LCDR George Sepel was on the bridge, but ENS John Ryan had the conn. With the Blackthorn's officer of the deck (Ensign Ryan) confused in regard to the standard operating procedure and rules of navigation, Blackthorn's captain issued orders for evasive action. One of the 23 crew members lost that day was 19-year-old Seaman Apprentice (SA) William Ray Flores, the namesake of our Tampa Chapter. Seaman Apprentice William "Billy" Flores was originally from Carlsbad, New Mexico and attended Western Hills High School in Fort Worth, Texas. On 21 May 1943 the keel was laid, she was launched on 20 July 1943 and commissioned on 27 March 1944. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A new statue honoring a hero of the USCGC Blackthorn tragedy was unveiled today before being added to a unique underwater memorial off the coast of Pinellas County. (On Tuesdays anniversary, the Coast Guard will remember the tragedy with its own event.) We remember and we honor the crew of Cutter Blackthorn; both those surviving and those lost. He talked with his family about the account of Larry Clutter, who served with his uncle on the Blackthorn. Official website This page was last edited on 21 July 2021, at 17:41 (UTC). Complement: 48Armament: Twenty-three of the Blackthorn's 50 crewmembers lost their lives during the Coast Guard's worst peacetime disaster, and a memorial inscribed with the names of the crewmembers that perished now. 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. Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the USCGC Blackthorn colliding with the tanker vessel Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980. All but one of the original tenders, USCGCIronwood(WLB-297), were built in Duluth. Although refloated, the BLACKTHORN was a total loss. 9,371 were here. Burial Details Unknown . 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. Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter. Blackthorn (WLB-391)black is one of the most popular wreck dives in the Tampa area. Speed: 13kn(24km/h; 15mph) maximum 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. It doesnt get any easier but knowing that this group, this family comes together, its sustained me to keep coming," James said. Well deliver the latest news and information you need to know every weekday morning. In 19791980, Blackthorn underwent a major overhaul in Tampa, Florida. Though collision was imminent, initial damage was not extensive however, Capricorns anchor was ready for letting go. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. [7][8] So how does Richard Flores feel about seeing his son follow in William Flores footsteps? And, perhaps most poignantly, the number 18. Looking for U.S. government information and services? On 28 January 1980, while leaving Tampa Bay after the overhaul, she collided with the tanker SS Capricorn. Peacetime: None. Example video title will go here for this video. Thirty years ago tonight, having just completed a 3 month overhaul, the Blackthorn was outward bound from Tampa Bay. The captain was on the bridge, but a junior officer had the conn. Having been overtaken by the Russian passenger ship Kazakhstan, Blackthorn continued almost in mid-channel. Although 27 crewmen . Blackthorn). courtesy of Wikipedia Wartime: 1 3"/50 caliber single mount The Blackthorn then navigated to almost mid-channel and resumed course. However, Capricorn's anchor was ready to be let go. But just west of the bridge's twin spans at the mouth of Tampa Bay, the Blackthorn collided with the freighter Capricorn.. 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. On 21 May 1943 the keel was laid, she was launched on 20 July 1943 and commissioned on 27 March 1944. There were similar findings on the part of Blackthorn's commanding officer and officer of the deck. 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 . Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation. Shortly after the collision, Blackthorn capsized, killing 23 of her crew. Primary responsibility for the collision was placed on the Blackthorn's captain, Lt. WASHINGTON Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf and U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl Schultz delivered remarks at the United States Coast Guard memorial service for the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn in St. Petersburgh, Florida. Ensign John Ryan had the conn. 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. Installed power: 2 Cooper-Bessemerdiesel engines Several crew members who had just reported aboard tried to escape and in the process trapped themselves in the engine room. The Blackthorn collision provided the impetus for the establishment of the . The USCG Cutter Blackthorn (WAGL-391) was a 180-foot Iris Class Seagoing Buoy Tender. 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. External links. Displacement: 935 long tons (950t) Several crew members who had just reported aboard tried to escape and in the process trapped themselves in the engine room. Having just been overtaken by a brightly lit cruise ship, the Blackthorn had maneuvered into the center of the channel to allow the passenger ship to pass. Copyright Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO). Email your comments! Six off-duty personnel who had mustered when they heard the collision alarm were trapped in the skin of the ship. Capricorns pilot blew two short whistle blasts to have the ships pass starboard-to-starboard on 21 July 2021 at! 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