Lets face it. We all have our favorite Lightships. They are the ones we served on. LV 114 WAL 536 was my Lightship.

 For background, and just in case you don’t know the numbers on your ship here is where the 536 served: 1930-1942: Fire Island (NY), 1942-1945: Examination Vessel, WWII, 1945-1947: Diamond Shoal (NC),
1947-1958: Relief (1st District), 1958-1969: Pollock Rip (MA), 1969-1971: Portland (ME.)

This ship has historical significance in that it was built in Portland OR. , and  it was the first Lightship to make the 5,892 mile passage from Portland (OR) to New York via Panama Canal, (first US lightship to make a West to East Coast transit.)

In 1970 she was pulled from the water and the bottom was completely sand blasted, repaired and re- painted. During that process the hull was re-in forced. One year later she was retired. The plan by the Coast Guard was to use it as a Coast Guard mobile museum but not so used. It was transferred to City of New Bedford (MA) in tiptop shape. It is now marked with the pseudo name NEW BEDFORD.

Off to a great start.

In the beginning of ownership by the City there was a lot of excitement. Committees were formed and plans were made. For the first two years work moved ahead. However nothing was actually done on the ship. It is not clear exactly what happened but I did find out from the man who headed the committee that he and the Mayors office had gotten into a fight and the Chairman had resigned and washed his hands of everything. At that point everything went downhill fast.

The ships neglect.

In 2002 the LSA held our reunion in New Bedford, and dedicated our Lightship Sailors Memorial. At that time local resident, and our First Vice President Bill Collette and I held meetings with the City in an effort to move the restoration forward. Nothing came from those meetings, although the City had expressed a strong interest in moving forward.

In 2003 we again attempted to get the project started. Some time later we got an artists conception from the City of what the park where the Memorial is located would look like with the Lightship in it’s final resting place, on the water by the Memorial.

Pigeon droppings were in abundance by 2003 since the ship had been broken into and the pigeons called it home. The city stated they would not let anyone on-board for an inspection to see what was needed for repairs. The Association contacted the MA.  EPA and we were told that pigeon droppings were very valuable as fertilizer and we should collect it using protective wear. The droppings would more that offset our expenses according to the EPA. Permits for the operation were readily available. The city must have thought we were crazy with this idea, even though we provided the EPA's  reps Name to them.

In 2004 we again contacted the City and were told that the bilges had water in them. At that time we were also told that because some fuel was in the bilges and red lead paint had been used the water was toxic. It was felt by the City that the cost of removing the toxic water made that operation prohibitive.

Our LSA Secretary, Rick Bennett came up with the answer to that problem for me. Use swimming pool filters to remove the pollutants from the ship. I contacted the largest dealer on the Cape and he assured me that ANY pollutants in the bilges could be removed, and that he would certify that the water being pumped over the side from the bilges would be pure. After three more conversations with the dealer I convinced him that if he did the job for nothing he would move than offset his cost with great free publicity. The City was notified of our information. Nothing happened.

In 2005 our President Larry Ryan made contact with the City in an effort to move the process along. Nothing came of his efforts.

It is now 2006 and the ship is in horrible shape. This is the same ship that was given to the City of New Bedford in 1972, in fine shape, since the original plan was for the Coast Guard to use it for a floating museum.

If anyone has any ideas please contact me by email at mgmimaging@aol.com or by phone at 651-488-6166.

Wait until you read the NEXT page. You will get sick!

Copyright  2004  United States Coast Guard Lightship Sailors by MGM IMAGING . All rights reserved.

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