WAL 605 / WLV 605

lightship RELIEF

- active lightship from 1950 until 1975 -



 

Ship data

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

Builder: Rice Brothers, East Boothbay (ME)

Year of construction: 1950

Contact price: 651,000 $

Material: steel hull and deckhouses, breakwater on foredeck, 2 masts, stack amidships
Sister vessels: WLV 604
 

Illumination: Dunlex 500mm electric lens lantern on foremast only; 15, 000cp each light; 1964 USCG lists vessel with CG high intensity 500,000cp light on mainmast, duplex 375mm lens-lantern on fore, 13, 000cp each light
Engine: Diesel - Atlas Imperial 550HP @ 750rpm; 7' dia. propeller
Speed: 10.7 knots
Radio and visual call sign: NKVY (1951 1975)
 
Anchor: Mushroom anchor
 
Crew: 12 men


History:

01.03.1949 laid down, involved in fire when 65% complete

04.05.1950 launched, sponsor Miss Elizbeth F Loughlin, Washington DC

07.02.1951 sea trials

15.02.1951 delivered

1951-1960 Station Overfalls (DE)

1960-1965 Station Blunts Reef (CA)

1965 renamed in WLV 605

1965-1969 Station Blunts Reef (CA)

1969-1975 Station Relief

01.01.1976 decommissioned

1978 acquired by State Capital Museum Association Olympia WA, but plans to convert the ship into a museum fell through

1979 sold to Alan Hoskins and used for tours at Half Moon Bay (CA)

31.12.1986 acquired by US Lighthouse Society in San Francisco

1989 designated to be a National Historic Landmark

06/2002 after 15 years of restoration and over 20.000 volunteers hours the ship moved from a pier in Oakland, under its own power, to its new home in Jack London Square, and is open to the public. The ship is located at the north end of the square, near the ferry terminal and the Presidential Yacht Potomac


Opening hours:
weekends from 11 am until 4 pm

Visitor address:
57c Clay Street
Jack London Square
Oakland CA
USA

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