June 24, 1995
USCGC Juniper (WLB-201), the lead ship of the U.S. Coast Guard’s seagoing buoy tenders, was launched. This vessel, weighing 2,000 tons (1,814.4 metric tons) and measuring 225 feet (69 meters) in length, had the distinction of being outfitted with some of the most advanced technological and navigational capabilities available at that time. These capabilities include skimming and recovering oil in the event of an oil spill; electronic charting; position-keeping; and remote engineering monitoring and control.
Juniper was officially commissioned into the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) less than two weeks after being launched. The ship was placed under the command of Commander Timothy S. Sullivan. (A 1975 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Sullivan retired from the USCG with the rank of rear admiral in 2013.)
In the time since the start of her USCG service, Juniper and her crew have been involved in numerous missions encompassing such areas as law enforcement, homeland security, ice-breaking, environmental pollution, and search-and-rescue efforts. The ship played a key role in the recovery operations following the crashes of TWA Flight 800 in 1996 and Egypt Air in 1999, for example, and also helped with protection and anti-terrorist operations in the New York City region after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
In 2007, Juniper participated in widespread reef-building efforts off the coast of New Jersey. The ship, as part of those efforts, deployed approximately 80 tons (72.6 metric tons) of concrete sinkers recovered from old buoy markers to assist in the recovery of local fish populations.
Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard
For more information on USCGC Juniper (WLB-201), please check out USCGC Juniper (WLB-201) – Wikipedia
Transportation History 
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