Coast Guard Remembers 23 Lives Lost In Blackthorn Collision

ST. PETERSBURG, FL —The Coast Guard held a memorial service Thursday for the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at the Blackthorn Memorial site in St. Petersburg.

Thursday marked the 41st anniversary of the Blackthorn colliding with the tanker vessel Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980, resulting in the deaths of 23 of the 50 Blackthorn crew members.

The tragic incident brought about significant changes to harbor entry navigational systems, wider shipping lanes and improvement in many other areas, according to the Coast Guard.

The ceremony included a fly over by Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, wreath laying, an honor platoon representing each Blackthorn victim, laying of roses, gun salute, and presiding official comments from Rear Adm. Eric Jones, Commanding Officer of the Seventh Coast Guard District.

“It’s an honor to be able to hold this event each year in remembrance of our lost shipmates," Capt. Matthew Thompson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg said. “It’s important that we pay tribute to them not only in ceremony, but in our continued efforts of properly training our Coast Guardsmen to provide the public with the best service possible on our nation’s waters.”

Every year the Coast Guard and community gather together to honor the 23 crew members at the memorial site, however this year due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the ceremony was closed off to the public.