YEAR BUILT: 1950

BUILT AT: Curtis Bay (MD)

APPROPRIATION: ?

BUILDER: USCG Yard

CONTRACT PRICE: $500,000

SISTER VESSELS: WLV 613

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: 617 displ

PROPULSION: Diesel - 550 HP

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Duplex 500mm electric lens lantern on foremast only; l5,000cp each light

FOG SIGNAL: Twin F2T diaphones mounted aft of pilot house

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: WLV 612-
Same general plan and features as WLV 189-
Used all-welded construction; transverse bulkheads carried to weather deck level; hawsepipes carried to weather deck before leading to chain locker; alternating current electrical system throughout-
Designated WAL 612 when built; designation changed to WLV in 1965-
1971: High intensity light installed on mainmast; using 24 locomotive headlights arranged in groups of 6 on each face of a four-sided revolving lamp housing; duplex lantern retained on foremast-
1982: RACON installed-

Radio/visual call sign NMDN (1950-1983)

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: WLV 612
1951-1969: San Francisco (CA)
1969-1971: Blunts Reef (CA)
1971-1975: Portland (ME)
1975-1983: Nantucket Shoals (MA)

(designated Nantucket I in 1979; thereafter WLV 612 & 613 alternated on the Nantucket station, relieving each other approximately every 21 days from 1979-1983)

HISTORICAL NOTES: WLV 612-
1951/1971: Service as indicated under station assignments-
1971: Made West Coast to East Coast transit; transferred to 1st District-
1983: Dec 20, relieved by WLV 613 at 0230 and departed for Boston. (WLV 613 then marked the Nantucket station briefly until approximately 0800 when replaced by LNB)-
1984/85, After leaving station, WLV 612 remained officially designated as a lightship although performing duty as a cutter, participating in various law enforcement, security and public relations missions-
1985: Oct 3-Jan 25, 1986, proceeded to southern waters and participated in exercises to evaluate her suitability as a support vessel for surface effect ships and patrol cutters engaged in law enforcement operations. The extent of modifications required for this use were not considered cost effective and the vessel returned to Boston-
WLV 612 (Nantucket I) was the last US lightship in commission

More notes:

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1983; AGE: 33

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Mar 29, 1985; sold to Boston Educational
Marine Exchange Jul 7, 1985; to be given pseudo name "Boston". Returned to GSA
due to financial problems. Acquired by Boston MDC, to be placed on display at
Georges Island, Boston Harbor.

COMMANDING OFFICERS: WLV 612

1950: BOSN-1 Fred L. Finlay commanding officer upon commissioning of the ship 18 September 1950 at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland.
1950: LT James E. Flemming relieved BOSN Finlay as voyage commander on 3 October for the trip to the West Coast.  BOSN Finlay remained on board as executive officer.
1950: Upon completion of the voyage, LT Flemming departed and BOSN Finlay resumed command on 5 December 1950 at CG Base Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California
1950: 5 December CHBOSN Fred L. Finlay
1952: 15 January BOSN Edwin H. Baird
1955: 26 October CHBOSN Fred L. Finlay
1958: 30 December CHBOSN William H. Blaylock
1960: 1 June CHBOSN James B. Gill (Past President LSA)
1962: 28 December BOSN James C. Sawyer
1964: 24 October BOSN A.K. Fenne
19??: 1967 logbooks missing; CHBOSN Francis A. France
1968: 20 September CHBOSN W.W. Croft
1969: June CHBOSN Koenig
1970: 24 June CHOBSN R.W. Goodrich

[The above information was provided to the Historian's Office by J.B. Gill,

 USCG (Ret.) and we are grateful for his assistance.]

1971: CWO R.W. Minzy [Information provided by John Fridge]
1972: LCDR Jack E. Arrington, CO (voyage commander, San Francisco-Boston)
1972-1973: CWO Richard D'Entremont, CO
1975: CWO Richard E. Rainville, CO
1975-1977: CWO J. P. Allwein, CO
1977-1979: CWO Donald W. Cowell, CO
1979-1981: CWO Larry A. Everman, CO
1981: CWO H. W. Davis Jr, CO
1981-1983: CWO Robert C. Collins, CO
1983-1985: CWO Dana P. Lewis

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