United States lightship Relief (WLV-605) facts for kids
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
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| Builder | Rice Brothers Corporation |
| Laid down | 1 March 1949 |
| Launched | 4 May 1950 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Elizabeth F Loughlin |
| Commissioned | 15 February 1951 |
| Decommissioned | 1 January 1976 |
| Out of service | 1975 |
| Identification |
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| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 400 gross register tons (GRT) |
| Displacement | 546 Loaded Tons |
| Length |
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| Beam | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Draught | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Depth | 21.4 ft (6.5 m) |
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Lightship WAL-605, RELIEF
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Serving as WLV-605 at Overfalls
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 Location in California
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| Location | Oakland, California |
| Built | 1950 |
| Architect | Rice Brothers |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002462 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 20 December 1989 |
| Designated NHL | 20 December 1989 |
The United States lightship Relief (WLV-605) is a special kind of ship called a lightvessel. It acts like a floating lighthouse. Today, it is a museum ship that you can visit in Oakland, California.
Relief was built in 1950. It is one of the few lightships still around. It's even more special because it was built just for the United States Coast Guard. Relief and its sister ship, the WLV-604 Columbia, are great examples of the last lightships ever made. Because of its importance, Relief was named a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
Contents
What is a Lightship?
A lightship is like a lighthouse that floats on the water. These ships were used in places where it was too deep or difficult to build a regular lighthouse. They had bright lights and fog signals to warn other ships about dangers like shallow water or reefs. Lightships helped guide ships safely, especially at night or in bad weather.
About the Relief Ship
The WLV-605 Relief is located in Oakland, California. You can find it on the waterfront, near the Oakland Ferry Terminal.
Ship's Design and Size
Relief is made of strong welded steel. It is about 128 feet (39 m) long, which is longer than three school buses! The ship is 30 feet (9.1 m) wide and its lower part goes 21.4 feet (6.5 m) deep into the water. It weighs about 400 gross tons.
On the deck, Relief has a steel deckhouse. It also has a special wall at the front called a breakwater. This helps protect the ship from big waves. There are two tall steel masts on the ship. These masts held the bright lights that guided other vessels. In the past, Relief also had a fog signal and a bell. These were operated by hand to make loud noises in foggy conditions.
Building and Early Service
The WLV-605 was first called WAL-605. It was built in 1949 at the Rice Brothers shipyard in East Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The ship was launched into the water on March 4, 1950. Just a few weeks later, it was ready for the Coast Guard on February 11, 1951.
Relief started its service at a lightstation called "Overfalls." This station was at the entrance to Delaware Bay. It worked there until 1960.
Journey to the West Coast
After 1960, the "Overfalls" station was closed. Relief then sailed all the way to the west coast of the United States. It served at a station called "Blunts Reef" until 1969. During this time, the Coast Guard changed how they named their lightships. That's when WAL-605 became WLV-605.
Later, the ship was officially given the name "Relief." Its job was to take the place of other lightships along the Pacific coast when they needed repairs or maintenance. Relief was taken out of service in 1975 and officially retired in 1976.
Becoming a Museum Ship
After its retirement, people tried several times to turn Relief into a museum. Finally, in 1986, the United States Lighthouse Society bought the ship. They now take care of Relief in Oakland, making sure it stays in good condition for visitors to learn about its history.
See also
