USCGC Katherine Walker (WLM-552)

USCGS Katherine Walker is a Keeper-class Coastal Buoy Tender of the United States Coast Guard. Her keel was laid on 8 April 1996 by Fincantieri Marine Group.[1] Her namesake is Katherine Walker the keeper of the Robbins Reef Light; Mrs. Walker was responsible for saving the lives of 50 people.[2] As well as keeping many ships away from the rocks. USCGC Katherine Walker is responsible for a total of 335 aids to navigation (ATON).[3]

History
United States
Name:	Kathrine Walker
Namesake:	The Keeper of the Robbins Reef Light
Owner:	United States
Operator:	US Coast Guard
Builder:	Fincantieri Marine Group
Laid down:	8 April 1996
Launched:	14 September 1996
Homeport:	Bayonne, New Jersey
Identification:	WLM-552
Status:	Active
General characteristics
Type:	Keeper Class Buoy Tender
Tonnage:	903 GT
Length:	53.34 m (175.0 ft)
Beam:	11 m (36.1 ft)
Height:	2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Decks:	1
Ice class:	Can break ice of about 35 mm thickness at 3 kn
Installed power:	2 x CAT 3508 TA diesels,
Propulsion:	2 x Ulstein/Rolls Royce 360 degree steerable Z-Drives plus 600 HP Electric Bow Thruster
Speed:	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range:	2000 nautical miles at 10 kn
Capacity:	Buoy deck area: 1/335ft2
Crew:	24 (2 Officers, 22 Enlisted)
Sensors and processing systems:	Nav. radar Machinery Plant Control and Monitoring System (MPCMS) Electronic Chart Positioning and Information System (ECPINS) Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) Side Scan Sonar
Aviation facilities:	Crane: 1 x 10 ton