United States lightship Nantucket (WLV-612) facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Lightship WLV-612 (Nantucket I) |
| Operator | United States Coast Guard |
| Builder | Curtis Bay, Maryland |
| Launched | 1950 |
| Commissioned | 18 September 1950 |
| Decommissioned | 29 March 1985 |
| In service | 1951 |
| Out of service | 1983 |
| Renamed | Nantucket |
| Refit | 2000 |
| Fate | Sold to private owners |
| Status | Available for private events and charters |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Lightvessel |
| Displacement | 617 tons |
| Length | 128 ft (39 m) |
| Beam | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Draft | 11 (3.3 m) |
| Propulsion | 550 Hp Diesel |
| Speed | 9 knots (17 km/h) |
| Range | 4000 miles |
| Boats & landing craft carried |
26.6 ft. motorized whale boat |
The Nantucket Lightship, also known as United States Lightship WLV-612, is a special kind of ship called a lightvessel. It was built in 1950. This ship was the very last lightship to be taken out of service by the United States Coast Guard.
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History of the Nantucket Lightship
The Nantucket Lightship started its journey in 1950 and began working in 1951. Its first job was near San Francisco, California. It was known as the San Francisco Lightship until 1969.
Different Names and Locations
- From 1969 to 1971, it was called the Blunts Reef Lightship. It served near Cape Mendocino Light in Northern California.
- Then, from 1971 to 1975, it became the Portland Lightship. It helped guide ships into Portland, Maine.
- In 1975, it was the last lightship to serve in Portland. A large floating buoy, called a Large Navigational Buoy, took its place. These buoys were much cheaper to keep running than a lightship with a crew.
Serving at Nantucket Shoals
From 1975 to 1983, the WLV-612 got a new assignment. It became the Lightship Nantucket at Nantucket Shoals. This is a very dangerous shallow area about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Nantucket Island.
Between 1979 and 1983, the WLV-612 and another ship, the United States Lightship WLV-613, took turns at Nantucket Shoals. They were called Nantucket I and Nantucket II. They would switch places about every 21 days.
A Special Moment on Board
On September 1, 1983, while it was switching with the Nantucket II, the WLV-612 had an important role. It was used as a radar and communication platform. This was happening off the Bush compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.
The US Vice President, George H. W. Bush, was on board the ship that day. He learned that the Soviet Union had shot down a passenger plane, Korean Air Lines Flight 007. This event helped lead to a big change. The government decided to let everyone use the military satellite navigation system, which later became GPS.
The Nantucket Lightship finished its service on March 29, 1985. It was officially taken out of commission in Boston.
Preservation Efforts
After it was taken out of service, the Nantucket Lightship was bought by a group called the Boston Educational Marine Exchange. However, they soon returned it because they didn't have enough money to keep it.
In 1987, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bought the ship for a small amount of money. They hoped to turn it into a museum at Georges Island (Massachusetts) in Boston Harbor. But again, there wasn't enough public money.
So, the ship was moved to Marina Bay (Quincy, Massachusetts). Volunteers from the Friends of Lightship Nantucket helped take care of it. In 1992, its main engines were fixed. The ship even took part in a big event called Sail Boston 1992, where many tall ships gathered.
In 1999, the state of Massachusetts decided to sell the WLV-612. It was put up for auction on eBay. A person named William B. Golden won the bid. He saved the ship from being sold for scrap metal.
From 2000 to 2003, a team of skilled workers in New Bedford, Massachusetts carefully restored the ship. They added many beautiful features. These included a master suite and four guest suites with fancy wooden beds. It also got six bathrooms, a modern kitchen, a dining room, a library, an office, and an entertainment room.
Today, the Nantucket Lightship is the only lightship in the United States that can still move on its own power.
In August 2009, the Nantucket Lightship was anchored near the Kennedy Compound. This was part of a memorial after Senator Ted Kennedy passed away. For several years, the ship was docked in TriBeCa in Lower Manhattan. It was used as a special place for events and parties.
From Spring 2016 to October 2016, it was docked at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. During this time, it hosted talks and public tours. In February 2017, it was shown on the TV program Chronicle (American TV program) while it was in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Since 2018, the ship has been docked in Boston Harbor. Another Nantucket Lightship, the United States lightship Nantucket (LV-112), is also located there.
