WAL 604 / WLV 604

lightship COLUMBIA

- active lightship from 1951 until 1979 -



Ship data

Length o.a.: 128 feet (39 m)
Beam: 30 feet (9.15 m)
Draft: 11 feet (3.35 m)
Displacement: 617 t
 

Builder: Rice Brothers, East Boothbay (ME)

Year of construction: 1950

Contact price: 500,000 $

Material: steel hull and deckhouses; breakwater on foredeck; 2 masts; stack amidships
Sister vessels: LV 605
 

Illumination: Duplex 500mm electric lens lantern on foremast only; 15,000cp each light
Propulsion: Diesel - one Atlas Imperial 8 cyl, direct reversing engine; 550 SHP, 750rpm; 7'dia propeller
Speed: 10.7 knots
Fog signal: Twin F2T diaphones aft of pilot house; hand operated bell
Radio and visual call sign: NEWP (1950-1979)



History:

19.12.1950 commissioned

March 1951 delivered in Seattle

1951-1979 Columbia River (OR)

1951/52 Took aboard man and daughter lost in fog while fishing: later taken ashore by USCG utility boat

1962 Took aboard crew of sinking USCG 36 foot motor lifeboat; later taken ashore by utility boat

1962/63 Blown off station during severe storm on Columbus Day

1963/64 Sideswiped by unknown vessel; withdrawn for repair of collision damage

13.12.1979 decommissioned, last lightship to serve on the West Coast

1980 sold to Columbia River Maritime Museum Astoria OR, afloat and open to the public


Museum hours:
9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily
(closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)

Entrance fees:
Adults: $8.00
Seniors (over 65): $7.00
Children (ages 6-17): $4.00
Children (under 6): Free

Visitor address:
Columbia River Maritime Museum
1792 Marine Drive
Astoria, Oregon 97103
USA

Link to the museum:
http://www.crmm.org

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