Her trials were held on Lake Erie on 26 April 1944, and she was commissioned on 31 May 1944, with a single mast and boom hoist.

She was assigned to tend aids to navigation and conduct search and rescue, limited ice-breaking, and law enforcement duties when needed.

On 18 October 1951, she assisted following a collision between the M/Vs George F. Rand and Harvey H. Brown off Port Huron, Michigan.

On 28 September 1962, she assisted the tug Russel towing a barge 10 miles northeast of Rochester, New York.

She also serviced buoys on several of the major rivers in Maine including the Penobscot, Kennebec, Damariscott, New Meadows, Sheepscot, and Saint Croix.