Still more chain cutting, US Coast Guard Photo

ABOARD CGC ACACIA (March 19, 2004)? Boatswains Mate Third Class Kent Beeksma makes a cut so that the buoy chain may be replaced aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Acacia. Once the buoy?s mooring chain is brought aboard, it is inspected for wear. If the chain is fine it is left on the buoy moor and the buoy is serviced and placed back in the water. If the chain is worn it is cut out and replaced with new chain to prevent the breaking of the buoy?s mooring. Acacia was in the Chicago area to check and replace buoys for the 2004 Great Lakes shipping season. Acacia is a 180-foot sea going buoy tender built in 1944 home ported in Charlevoix, Mich.