Boston Lightship

Boston Lightship WLV-189 reef
Type:
artificial reef, lightship, USA
Name:
Named for the harbor that it served as marker for during its long active career.
Built:
1946, Bay City MI USA
Specs:
( 128 x 30 ft ) 630 tons
Sponsor:
Atlantic County, Trump Casino, Atlantic City Seafood Festival, Artificial Reef Association, Atlantic County Party & Charter Boat Association
Sunk:
Friday January 28, 1994 - Atlantic City Artificial Reef
GPS:
39°15.444' -74°14.004'
Depth:
85 ft

Although known as the Boston Lightship, this particular vessel spent most of her career off North Carolina, New Orleans, and Cape May, where she marked a shoal in the approaches to Delaware Bay known as the Five Fathom Bank. After decommissioning in Massachusetts in 1975, the lightship was under tow back to Atlantic City for conversion to a floating museum when she was struck by a tanker, tearing a large hole in her port side ( see photos below. ) the museum conversion never materialized, probably because of the collision damage, and the ship languished until taken over by the Artificial Reef Program. She was dismasted and sunk intact with a wealth of historical artifacts ( portholes! ) many of which are very difficult to get at since the wreck lies on its side.

Boston Lightship WLV-189 reef
Launching
Boston Lightship WLV-189 reef
On station off North Carolina
Boston Lightship WLV-189 reef
Collision damage
Boston Lightship WLV-189 reef
Boston Lightship WLV-189 reef
Boston Lightship WLV-189 reef

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: WLV 189

  • 1947-1966: Diamond Shoal (NC)
  • 1966-1971: New Orleans (LA)
  • 1971-1972: Five Fathom Bank (NJ)
  • 1972-1975: Boston (MA)

The last Five Fathom Bank Lightship was LV189 ( later called WLV189 ) which was built in 1947. She served at Five Fathom Bank from 1971-1972 when the station was discontinued. She was sent to the Boston station where she served until being decommissioned in 1974. She was being towed from the Boston station to Gardiner's Basin in Atlantic City when she was rammed by a tanker. A large hole was ripped in her port side, which was never repaired. LV189 remained docked at Gardiner's Basin for seventeen years, practically ignored until she was donated to New Jersey's Artificial Reef Program. On February 29, 1994, she was sent to the bottom to provide habitat for fish and other lifeforms. She had previously also served stints on the Diamond Shoals, and New Orleans stations.

A large navigational buoy replaced the departing Five Fathom Bank Lightship #189 which marked a main shipping channel to Delaware Bay, 20 miles off Cape May, New Jersey.

-- from Coast Guard historical records


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USCG

The United States Coast Guard is this nation's oldest and premier maritime agency. The history of the Service is very complicated because it is the amalgamation of five Federal agencies. These agencies, the Revenue Cutter Service, the Lighthouse Service, the Steamboat Inspection Service, the Bureau of Navigation, and the Lifesaving Service, were originally independent, but had overlapping authorities and were Shuffled around the government. They sometimes received new names, and they were all finally united under the umbrella of the Coast Guard. The multiple missions and responsibilities of the modern service are directly tied to this diverse heritage and the magnificent achievements of all of these agencies.

USCG
The old Life Saving Station at Sandy Hook, with its distinctive watchtower. 100 years ago this would have been a busy place during a storm like this. Today it is a museum.

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