EUREKA, Calif. – The commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Aspen presented an antique anchor to the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum here today during the 2008 Humboldt Bay Maritime Expo.
The Aspen recovered the stream anchor, considered a maritime artifact by the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum, in March of 2008 during buoy tending operations in the Humboldt Bay Entrance Channel. The 1,100-pound anchor was found entangled in the chain of a buoy in the harbor.
Historical research conducted by the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum indicated that the anchor came from one of six possible vessels that wrecked in the Humboldt Bay Channel during the mid-nineteenth century.
“The cutter Aspen is happy to present this artifact to the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum and to the community that lost it so many years ago. We would like to thank the citizens of Eureka and surrounding areas for welcoming us to participate in this maritime event,” said Cmdr. Steven Wittrock, commanding officer of the Aspen.
The Aspen, home ported in San Francisco, is a multi-mission buoy tender, responsible for aids to navigation, law enforcement and search and rescue throughout the coast of California.
