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.
To Lightship Stations and the Ships that Served on them.
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