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Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 11:44pm.
Welcome Cutter Katherine Walker
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Description
From the South Street Seaport Museum:
Come aboard and take a tour of this visiting Coast Guard Cutter Katherine Walker, a 175-foot coastal buoy tender homeported in Bayonne, N.J. The cutter is known as the “Keeper of New York Harbor” and its primary mission is maintaining 342 floating Aids to Navigation in and around New York harbor and its approaches, Long Island Sound, the Hudson and East Rivers, and other waters along the Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey coastlines. As the Coast Guard’s premier maritime command and control platform in the tri-state region, Katherine Walker is used extensively for Homeland Security operations as well as other high profile missions, including the United Nations General Assembly and Macy’s July Fourth Fireworks event. The crew also performs Search and Rescue, Ice-Breaking, Enforcement of Laws and Treaties and Environmental Response and Protection.
The cutter is named after Katherine Walker (November 25, 1848–February 5, 1931), a German-American lighthouse keeper. In 1885, Walker’s husband John took the position as Keeper of the Robbins Reef Lighthouse, and the whole family moved on to the reef. In 1890, John fell to pneumonia and uttered his final words to his wife: “Mind the light, Kate.” Katherine Walker manned Robbins Reef lighthouse for the next 33 years. During her time as Keeper, Kate has been credited with 50 human rescues as well as the rescue of one dog. In 1919, at 71, Kate retired and passed along the title of Keeper to her son.
Stop by between 9am and 2pm on May 23 and 24 to come aboard and learn more about the history of this vessel and speak with her crew. No registration required.