Last Updated: February 24, 2010

Lightship’s Beacon Beckons

A cold sub-freezing winter weekend of volunteers gathered on the foredeck of Nantucket/LV-112, that traveled from all parts of the U.S. Many volunteers were former retired U.S. Coast Guard LV-112 crew members and other former USCG lightship sailors that were members of the Lightship Sailors Association.

• Adam Grohman

Over the course of the last three months, a host of volunteers, many of whom were former crew members or lightship sailors, have been working with Bob Mannino, Jr., to prepare the Nantucket Lightship, LV-112, for her voyage to her new homeport. As previously reported, the languishing lightship, which has been moored for the past seven years in the serene waters of Oyster Bay, was finally provided a new lease on life, when ownership was transferred to the United States Lightship Museum.
Mannino and his crew of landlubbers and salts alike have been spending countless hours preparing the lightship for departure. Mannino recently explained that the vessel had a series of required “safety” tasks that had to be completed before the inspectors would issue the necessary paperwork to the insurance and towing company. Though the bulk of the minor repairs had been completed in time for a second inspection, several other aspects that required attention were identified during the subsequent walk-through and inspection. Mannino commented that although the work is detailed and time-consuming, he has been enjoying the opportunity to work with a mix of former crewmen and community volunteers on the ship.
The LV-112, which was originally built in 1936 by Pusey & Jones Shipbuilders in Wilmington, DE., has a long and storied history as a beacon to mariners. Her original plans had not been in the original budgetary plans
of the U.S. Lighthouse Service (later integrated into the U.S. Coast Guard), but a deadly accident between the LV-117, the LV-112’s predecessor, and the larger RMS Olympic in 1934, had required the government to rebuild the vital floating lightship. Paid for by the White Star Line, the LV-112 was the largest lightship ever built for duty in the service. For thirty-nine years, the LV-112, with only normal down-time, served the mariners of the world as she maintained her lit vigil on station. In 1975, the LV-112 received orders that her service was no longer needed and she was decommissioned at the Navy Yard in Boston. After a seven year sojourn in local waters, she is now headed to her new home in Boston.
At this point, Mannino explained, “once the final approval is issued by the inspector,” the towing company which is home-ported in Boston, will work with Mannino and the leadership of the United States Lightship Museum, to schedule the towing evolution. Soon, the lightship which has long been idle in local waters, will be on her way to begin the next chapter in her storied career. After she arrives in her new home-port and receives other required attention and repairs, she will once again be afforded the opportunity to serve as a beacon for sailors, scholars, school children, and others, as a floating reminder of our nation’s rich and important maritime history.

Robert Mannino, Jr., President of the United States Lightship Museum, new owners of LV-112.

Local Bayville resident and volunteer, Ken DeJesu repairs the seal on one of LV-112's watertight bulkhead doors.

 

Local area residents and volunteers, Bill Perks and former LV-112 crew member Mike Ninivaggi ("Neverdull") review LV-112 blue prints. Mike was given the nickname, "Neverdull" as a result of keeping the brass components on LV-112, polished and shipshape while he was a USCG crew member in the early 1970's.

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