In 1973 the Military Sealift Command took control of Lipan.  MSC is a civilian agency attached to the U.S. Navy and they operate ships without using military personnel.  Typically they do little upkeep and aren't prepared for all possibilities so the ship's complement (its crew size) is cut to perhaps a third of its usual crew of  Five Officers and about 85 sailors.  Repairs are done in the yards by civilians more frequently.  They mostly tow ships and targets for the fleet.  The MSC had control of Lipan until 1980, when she was decommissioned and turned over to the United States Coast Guard.  She worked in the Puget Sound area of Washington and was struck by a tanker in the straits of Juan de Fuca and received substantial damage to her starboard side.