The Manitowoc Company, Inc. recently launched the U.S.Coast Guard Cutter Oak, the eleventh ship in a series of 16 seagoing buoy tenders being built at Manitowoc's Marinette Marine subsidiary. This 225-ft. Juniper-class vessel is part of a series of contracts, which were awarded to Marinette in 1993 and 1998. The launch ceremony, which took place on January 26, featured U.S. Representative Henry E. Brown Jr. (D-SC) as the keynote speaker; his wife, Billye Brown, the sponsor of the ship, performed the traditional christening ceremony. Rear Admiral Jay Carmichael, commander of the seventh U.S. Coast Guard District also attended the ceremony. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Oak will homeport in Charleston, S.C., under the command of LCDR James M. Cash.