YEAR BUILT: 1946

BUILT AT: Bay City (MI)

APPROPRIATION: ?

BUILDER: Defoe Shipbuilding Co

CONTRACT PRICE: ?

SISTER VESSELS: WLV 196

DESIGN: Diesel propelled; steel hull and deckhouses; breakwater on foredeck; 2 masts, stack amidships

LENGTH: 128'0" (loa); BEAM: 30'0"; DRAFT: 11'0"; TONNAGE: 630 displ (apprx)

PROPULSION: Diesel - one GM 6-278A 6 cyl, clutch reversing; reduction gearing; closed system fresh water cooling; 500 SHP @ 250 RPM

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Duplex 500mm electric lens lantern on foremast only;
15,000cp each light, 57 feet above water

FOG SIGNAL: Twin F2T diaphones aft of pilot house; hand operated bell

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: WLV 189-

First of 6 lightships designed and built for USCG; originally designated WAL 189 when built; changed to WLV in 1965-
First of only 6 all welded lightships ever constructed-
First of only 6 lightships ever designed and built with alternating current electrical system throughout-
High degree of watertight integrity maintained by transverse bulkheads carried to weather deck level; hawsepipes carried to weather deck before leading to chain locker-
Built specifically for Diamond Shoal station-
Launched Oct 16, 1946; commissioned Nov 1946, placed on station during 1947-
1966: High intensity light installed on mainmast, using 24 locomotive headlights headlights mounted in groups of 6 on each face of a 4-sided
revolving lamp housing; duplex lens lantern retained on foremast-
Radio/visual call sign NMJG (1946-1975)

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: WLV 189
1947-1966: Diamond Shoal (NC)
1966-1971: New Orleans (LA)
1971-1972: Five Fathom Bank (NJ)
1972-1975: Boston (MA)

HISTORICAL NOTES: WLV 189

More notes:

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1975; AGE: 24

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned May 19, 1975 and laid up; a volunteer civilian crew of 12 Nantucket Islanders made the vessel ready for sea and delivered her from Boston to Atlantic City NJ Jul 14-19, 1975; struck by tanker en route; donated as training vessel; converted to museum 1980 at Atlantic City

Actual Sinking of Lightship WLV 189.

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Revised: 10/23/06.