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Remaining on course from
a spectacular summer!
| Community collaborations — kids learning nautical crafts and sciences, tours for scuba divers, unique place for organizations to meet | | Jim Keating and his wife, Sheila, participated on behalf of the U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM) during “Kids in Boating Day" in June at the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina. Jim is a USLM volunteer and master marlinspike sailor, someone who has achieved a high level of proficiency in marlinespike seamanship — the art of handling and working with ropes ("lines" in nautical terms), including knot tying, splicing and other techniques for joining, securing, and manipulating ropes and wires. Jim’s marlinespike crafts are displayed on the table in the photo. At the event, Jim demonstrated to attendees some of his marlinespike talents and crafted sailor-knot rope bracelets for the youngsters. | Jim Keating shows two youngsters how to craft a sailor-knot rope bracelet. | Left: A young lady shows off her newly crafted rope bracelet made by Jim Keating. Right: On board Nantucket/LV-112, Kurt Hasselbalch offers instructional nautical knot-tying techniques to visitors during the “Kids in Boating” event. Kurt serves on the Board of Directors of the Tugboat Luna Preservation Society. The Luna is a unique 1930 historic wood constructed Boston Harbor tugboat, a National Historic Landmark, as is Nantucket/LV-112. Kurt Hasselbalch began his 35-year career in maritime museums on the dry-docked 1,400-ton steam powered Missouri River dredge Captain Merriwether Lewis. His next position was curator at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY. In 1990 he became curator of the Hart Nautical Collection at the MIT Museum, from which he retired in 2019. He has been a Board Member for the Essex Shipbuilding Museum and the Schooner Ernestina–Morrissey Association (SEMA). | Paul Sabo (left), a former USCG LV-112 crew member (1973) and today a volunteer tour guide volunteer on Nantucket/LV-112, shares his experience at sea while assigned to LV-112 with visitors on “Kids in Boating Day.” | Visitors on a tour of LV-112, with a view of the Boston skyline. | The East Boston Community Soup Kitchen recently held their annual Volunteer Appreciation Party on board Nantucket/LV-112, on a beautiful August evening in view of a picturesque summer sunset. | Every year, the USLM participates in The American City Coalition (TACC) water and land events at he Seaport District in South Boston. Roxbury and Dorchester residents come together with families, friends and neighbors for a fun FREE day of water and land activities in Boston’s Fort Point Channel — kayaking and exploring what the waterfront has to offer! Youths are always attracted to the shark jaws on display at the Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 exhibit booth. The jaws are an artifact from the many sharks that were caught by LV-112 crew members while anchored on Nantucket Shoals Lightship Station. Occasionally, mako sharks were cooked and served on board the Nantucket. If prepared well, mako shark has a reputation for having a mild sweet flavor, often compared to swordfish or tuna. In fact, some compare it favorably to a ribeye steak. Another favorite at the USLM exhibit are the block-and-tackle pulleys — “Work Smarter Not Harder,” a live interactive lesson in practical physics. The pulleys were donated by Westerbeke Fishing Gear Co., Gloucester, MA. | | |
Inspiring the younger generation
to carry on the lightship's mission
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Many of our nation's historic sites, places and landmarks today are administered and cared for by the older generation. In addition to managing Nantucket/LV-112's restoration and preservation, the other mission of the U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM) is education. A significant segment of our educational programs is to inspire and motivate children to become guiding lights, recognizing their key role in helping preserve America's historic treasures for generations to come. Touring and experiencing historic sites such as Nantucket/LV-112 is an important living history resource that includes many aspects of period culture — the material and intangible aspects — demonstrating that learning from history helps us to succeed in the future.
In addition, the USLM offers other programs to educate the general public about this legendary 150-foot floating lighthouse and learning center, engendering an appreciation of its role in maritime history and culture as well as marine and nautical sciences, including oceanographic, navigational, environmental and weather sciences.
| | | | As a floating museum, LV-112 inspires and motivates youngsters. Top left: Four-year-old Manny takes a turn at the helm with his mom, while his baby brother Max watches. Top right: Inspired by his visit to the Nantucket, Manny sits at home with his newly purchased book "Lightship." Bottom: Emeline, age five, at the time of her visit, explores LV-112's engine room with her "Lightship" book, obtained from her library in Portland, ME. | | |
A lesson in practical physics "Work Smarter, Not Harder":
USLM volunteer Rob Nickologianis instructs a youngster on the proper method of handling a rope while raising and lowering a heavy object with a block-and-tackle pulley so she doesn’t experience rope burns on her hands.
| | A youngster tries out the 1,200-pound fog bell on LV-112’s foredeck. | | The South Shore Neptunes SCUBA diving club from Quincy, MA, came aboard LV-112 for a tour. The Neptunes, formed in 1955, are one of the oldest active SCUBA diving clubs in the country. Aside from organizing recreational diving programs, which include shipwreck diving, they collaborate with other organizations offering underwater environmental diving programs. Previously, a dedicated group within the Neptunes were a Civil Defense Underwater Recovery Team and assisted the Quincy Police Department with underwater recovery emergencies. For more information about the South Shore Neptunes, click here. | | Eight Bells: Capt. Jeffrey W. Monroe, MM, CME, AMPE (1954-2025) | | Capt. Jeffrey W. Monroe — Captain Jeff served as the Director of Education and training of the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) from 2014 until his passing in 2025. He worked tirelessly, taught passionately, and mentored with wisdom and encouragement right up until his last days. | | |
It is with a heavy heart that we are sharing the news of the passing of Captain Jeffrey Monroe, who resided in Cape Elizabeth, ME. Captain Jeff introduced himself to the U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM) several years ago as a result of his volunteer involvement with Nantucket Lightship/ LV-112 when berthed and owned by a previous Portland-based nonprofit organization that operated LV-112 as a museum ship.
Jeff expressed his long-time affection for the Nantucket, as he referred to, as the "ol’ girl.” Since then, Jeff had become a friend and helpful advisor to the USLM. A significant segment of LV-112’s history is also linked to Portland Harbor during its re-assignment with the U.S. Navy during WWII (1942-45) as a converted–armed examination vessel (USS Nantucket), helping to protect Portland’s wartime shipbuilding operations from enemy German U-Boats, targeting the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, commencing in January 1942 with devastating effect, sinking hundreds of ships near shore due to inadequate American defenses.
| | In August 2024, a framed signed art print and plaque were presented to Captain Matthew Baker, Sector Northern New England's new Sector Commander, and his staff by Capt. Monroe (in photo) and Robert Mannino Jr., President of the U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM), as a memento of Nantucket Lightship/LV-112’s previous time as a museum ship in Portland, Maine (prior to the USLM’s ownership of LV-112) and as a tribute to the volunteers and Coast Guard personnel who helped maintain the vessel and ran educational programs while the lightship was in Maine. Capt. Monroe also was one of the captains of Nantucket/LV-112 when she was berthed in Portland. | | Captain Jeff's career made him uniquely qualified to tackle the challenge of developing training tools for port executives. He attended Maine Maritime Academy and graduated with his 3rd Mate license. After a short time in the Navy, he sailed on tankers in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Working his way up to Captain, he eventually came ashore to teach future mariners (and port professionals) at SUNY Maritime at Fort Schuyler, NY, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay. From there, he took on executive positions at Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) in Boston and the Port of Portland, Maine. In fact, Jeff helped transform Portland’s waterfront (to learn more, click here). | | How you can help Nantucket Lightship/LV-112's light beacon keep shining and our historic cause moving forward | | |
All electronic donations will be securely processed by PayPal
| | Nantucket Lightship/LV-112's maintenance
and preservation | | As part of the Nantucket’s ongoing maintenance, the historic lightship is undergoing a pressure washing and surface prep of her exterior hull shell plating above the waterline, in preparation for recoating and refreshing her red and white (lettering) hull color coating. AMEX Industrial Services from East Boston is performing the project work and is generously donating a large portion of their services. AMEX has been Nantucket Lightship/LV-112’s surface prep and coatings contractor since 2012. Click here for more information about AMEX Industrial Services. | | Keeping Nantucket/LV-112 heading in the right direction
When the USLM acquired LV-112 in 2009, the famous lightship wasn’t equipped with the proper historically accurate wheel (pictured below) located on the flying bridge. It had been replaced with a contemporary sailboat wheel, which was an extremely poor replacement and unacceptable. The original wheel was identical to the pilot house helm. So, in 2010, we had to locate a wheel that was similar as much as possible to the original. We found a vintage Liberty Ship wheel that was relatively close in style and age (the hunt is still on for the original). Recently, we had to do some repairs to the helm, which required modifying the fabricated wheel-shaft adapter. Merrimac Tool Co. in Amesbury, MA generously donated their machining services. | | Left: USCG LV-112 crew member stands next to intact flying bridge wheel and helm station. Right: Crew member holds the same wheel, broken and splintered, by monstrous 70-foot seas crashing down on Nantucket Lightship during Hurricane Edna’s 110mph winds in 1954, at which time, LV-112 became disabled and had to be towed back to Boston for repairs, where the original wheel and helm station were repaired and reinstalled. In addition to the horrific damage that LV-112 suffered, many crew members sustained injuries battling the force of Edna. Luckily, there were no fatalities — although they all thought they were going to die as a result of the storm. | | | | Top left: Aidan O’Rourke, Vice President, and Erin Riley, General Manager, of Merrimac Tool Co. Top right: A Merrimac Tool machinist creates a hub cover for the wheel on a lathe. Bottom: Aidan makes adjustments on wheel hub for the shaft adapter. | |
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They’ve seen the light…
and kept it bright as a guiding light!
| | This summer, Joe Winsper (left) and Adam Cecil (right) from Zussy Brothers, LLC, replaced a number of LV-112’s main rotating light-beacon lamps. The burned out beacon lamps are on the weather deck in foreground. The main light beacon holds 24 high-wattage locomotive lamps (only 12 at a time are activated during service) with a 23-mile range. The light beacon is nearly 70 feet above the waterline. Zussy Brothers is a USLM marine contractor who in 2015 performed major structural and mechanical restoration of the main light beacon, radio beacon antenna, foghorn navigational warning systems on Nantucket/LV-112. | | Zussy Bros. shipfitters perform structural rebuilding and restoration of top masts, main rotating light beacon and radio beacon antenna. | | Sea-mine disposal ROV donated to USLM, now for sale to benefit Nantucket/LV-112 | | The PAP104 Mk5 ROV sea-mine disposal vehicle (modified). | | |
Brian Kelly from Kelly Automotive Group, Danvers, MA, has generously donated this remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from his museum of private collections, which include vintage/collectable vehicles and pop-culture mementos. The Kelly Automotive Group has several Ford, Infiniti, Jeep, Nissan and Volkswagen dealership locations.
As the U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM) has no practical use for the ROV, it is being offered for sale. Proceeds from the sale will go towards Nantucket Lightship/LV-112’s restoration and the USLM’s educational programs. To inquire, click here.
| | An operational mine disposal vehicle being deployed from minesweeper. | | The sea-mine disposal vehicle is a remotely operated vehicle loaded into minesweepers that were developed and manufactured by ECA Group of France. They are used in Europe by the U.K. Royal Navy and French Navy as well as in Japan, Singapore and other Asian countries. The PAP Mark 5 was designed to identify and destroy sea bottom and tethered mines. More than 500 PAP underwater vehicles have been ordered by 20 navies throughout the world. These ROVs have been deployed successfully during combat missions in areas such as the Red Sea, Falklands, Persian Gulf, etc., completing more than 45,000 runs so far. Click here for more information. | | Looking for a showcase model of Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 or nautical antiques? | | Look what's for sale at the Lannan Gallery! Located in Norwell, MA, this gallery offers a world-class showroom inventory of nautical antiques and ship models. In addition, it offers a variety of maritime antiques especially for collectors, home, office or restaurant interior decor, and other memorabilia, including items dating from circa 1800, as well as lightship showcase models, antique nautical charts and marine paintings. Domestic and international shipping is available. For more information, click here. | | |
SS Andrea Doria / MS Stockholm:
69th anniversary of collision and rescue
| | This newly released U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) photo is from last year’s U.S. Lightship Museum’s “Celebrating Lifesavers at Sea” event, July 24-26, 2024, in Boston Harbor, honoring the 68th anniversary of the SS Andrea Doria / MS Stockholm incident. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) performed a dramatic MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter (from Air Station Cape Cod) sea-rescue demonstration with a rescue swimmer and their rescue training dummy, Oscar, in front of Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 on July 25, the anniversary date of the tragic collision. On July 26, at the same location, the USCG performed a second sea rescue with one of their Fast Response Cutters (FRC), USCGC Melvin Bell. The Andrea Doria sank on July 26, 1956, approximately 20 miles from Nantucket/LV-112 while anchored on station. From 1952-56, LV-112 guided the Andrea Doria through the North Atlantic sea lanes. The Andrea Doria made 51 transatlantic crossings from Italy to the U.S. before its final voyage, its 52nd. Photo credit: USCG | | This summer, the 69th anniversary of the Andrea Doria sinking was commemorated on July 25, 2025, at the Italian American Museum in New York City. The museum hosted the event to mark the occasion with Andrea Doria survivors and featured a recovered artifact exhibit by exploration SCUBA diver, John Moyer of Moyer Expeditions, LLC. The SS Andrea Doria artifact exhibit will be on display through January 2026. To view last year’s anniversary event in Boston, click here (scroll down eNews). | | USCG sailors toss Oscar, the rescue training dummy, overboard for a rescue exercise. | | BOSTON (July 25, 2024) — A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer waves to spectators while being hoisted from Boston Harbor during a search and rescue (SAR) demonstration by Air Station Cape Cod. The display of aerial recovery procedures took place during “Celebrating Lifesavers at Sea,” commemorating the 68th anniversary of the SS Andrea Doria rescue, as seen by spectators from the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina pier, adjacent to Nantucket Lightship’s berth.
Photo credit: USCG | | After the SS Andrea Doria collided with the MS Stockholm in 1956, USCG helicopters airlifted some of the more seriously injured survivors to Nantucket Island. These survivors were then transferred to the island's hospital or transported to Boston hospitals. The rescue effort was a massive undertaking, coordinated by the USCG involving numerous vessels (25) and aircraft resources. Of 1,706 Andrea Doria passengers and crew, 1,660 were rescued. The Andrea Doria rescue is considered the greatest peacetime maritime rescue in history. Photo credit: USCG | | The USCGC Hornbeam W394 is shown rescuing SS Andrea Doria passengers and crew from lifeboats. The Andrea Doria is in the background, severely listing during its final hours before sinking to her watery grave on July 26, 1956. The Hornbeam was an Iris-class buoy tender that also provided supply service to Nantucket/LV-112 while it was a commissioned USCG lightship anchored on Nantucket Shoals Lightship Station. | |
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Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 featured in
'Secret Boston: An unusual guide'
| | "Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide" reveals Boston's lesser-known history and unique attractions. Nantucket/LV-112 is featured on pages 262-263. Readers can appreciate the book's concise, informative descriptions and its focus on "hidden gems" that go beyond the typical tourist destinations. The 288-page paperback is compact enough to stuff in your knapsack for reference when on a journey to discover unique and interesting sites to explore and learn from. It can be found in book stores and on Amazon. | | The U.S. Lightship Museum is now a member of 'Museums for All' | | |
The U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM) has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. The program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits, who can visit Nantucket/LV-112 for free, up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 850 museums across the country. Museums for All is part of the USLM’s broad commitment to seek, include and welcome all audiences. For more information about Museums for All, click here.
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How you can
help Nantucket/LV-112's
light beacon keep shining
| All electronic donations will be securely processed by PayPal | |
Attention lighthouse lovers
If you love lighthouses and want to learn about these guiding lights and navigational aids all over the world, then The Lighthouse Directory is the website for you. It provides an astounding amount of information, linking to more than 17,200 of the world's lighthouses. Russ Rowlett, Adjunct Professor of Mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, compiled the directory with the assistance of hundreds of lighthouse fans around the world who have enriched this site with their own information and suggestions. For a long time, Rowlett tried to maintain a list of lighthouses from his many friends and contacts, but it had grown too long (and too out-of-date) to display on the comprehensive site. Rowlett offers special thanks to Michel Forand for his suggestions and editing, touching essentially every page of the directory, and Jeremy D'Entremont, Ted Sarah and Klaus Huelse, each contributing in vital ways.
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The Maine Lighthouse Museum
Another unique educational resource for U.S. lighthouse history, lifesaving and lightship services is the Maine Lighthouse Museum (MLM), located in Rockland, Maine, the heart of the midcoast. Last October, the U.S. Lightship Museum presented a PowerPoint presentation at the MLM about U.S. lightships and Nantucket/LV-112. The mission of the Maine Lighthouse Museum is to educate the public regarding the longstanding traditions, heroism and progress of America's lighthouse and lifesaving services and the U.S. Coast Guard through the conservation and interpretation of the nation's most significant collection of lighthouse and lifesaving artifacts. From sparkling lighthouse lenses to heartwarming stories of the keepers and their families, the Maine Lighthouse Museum is truly America's lighthouse museum. For more information, log on to the Maine Lighthouse Museum or call 207.594.3301.
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Support LV-112's restoration!
Become a USLM member today
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For a gift of $1,000 or more, donors will receive a limited-edition, fine-art print of the SS United States passing Nantucket Lightship/LV-112, painted by Gerald Levey.
Discover the value-added membership benefits when you become a member of the U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM). The USLM is a member of the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM). All USLM members will be granted reciprocal privileges (free admission) at participating CAMM institutions. For more information about the benefits and the USLM Membership program, click on USLM Membership.
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ACK Marine and General Contracting, LLC
American Express
Amex Industrial
Services, Inc.
Association of Public Safety Communications Officials - Atlantic Chapter
BAE Systems
Battery Wharf Hotel
Bluefin Robotics
Boston Forge & Welding Corp.
Boston Harbor
Shipyard & Marina
The Boston Foundation
ThreeBees Fund
Boston Marine Society
Burnham Associates, Inc.
Burnham Marine
California Public Safety Radio Association
Cameron International Corporation
Charitable Adult Rides and
Services, Inc.
City of Boston
Community Preservation Act
C/J Towing & Recovery
Claflin & Son
Nautical Antiques
Crandall Dry Dock Engineers
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Capt. Robertson P. Dinsmore Fund
Donahue, Tucker &
Ciandella, PLLC
East Boston Foundation
Eastern Bank Charitable
Foundation
Eastern Salt Company
Egan Maritime Institute,
Nantucket Shipwreck &
Lifesaving Museum
Fitzgerald Shipyard
Foss Maritime
Friends of the
Boston Harbor Islands
H&H Propeller, Inc.
J. Hewitt Marine
Electrical Services
SR Johnson Fund
Kelly Automotive Group
H.F. Lenfest Fund
The Lightship Group, LLC
Marine Systems Corporation
Massachusetts Historical Commission
McAllister Towing &
Transportation Co.
Meri
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
Melvin's Welding
Merrimac Tool Company
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Joe and Pepette Mongrain
Fund
National Park Service
Save America's Treasures
National Trust for
Historic Preservation
New England
Lighthouse Lovers
New London Maritime Society and Custom House Maritime Museum
Patriot Marine, LLC
Red Top Boats Water Taxi
The Sail Loft, LLC, Nantucket
Sea Tow Boston
Sherwin-Williams
Industrial Marine Coatings Division
State Street Corporation
T & M Services
Town of Oyster Bay,
Long Island, NY
U.S. Coast Guard Lightship Sailors Association
U.S. Lighthouse Society
West Marine
Westerbeke Company
Verizon Foundation
Zuni Maritime Foundation
USS Zuni / USCG Tamaroa
Individual Donors
USLM Members
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Nantucket/LV-112
Proudly made in USA
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USLM is a member
of the following organizations
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Teach children about lightships
with the book Lightship
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Editorial From School Library Journal
Kindergarten–Grade 2: Lightships were anchored where lighthouses could not be built. They protected our ocean harbors as well as points along the Great Lakes. The last one (Nantucket/LV-613) was decommissioned in 1983, so this fascinating picture book is a piece of nautical history. Brian Floca's watercolor drawings depict daily life aboard one of these vessels, cooking, sleeping, working, all the while rolling with the rhythm of the waves. Many hazards were involved. Big ships came too close, anchors lost their mooring, and weather caused many problems. But when the fog rolled in, the lightship sprang into action. Lights flashed and horns sounded, allowing ship traffic to make it "through fog and night, past rocks and shoals, past reefs and wrecks, past danger." The drawings are very detailed. Some pages are collages of small scenes. Many are full spreads. The sailors' facial expressions are amusing to watch, and the resident cat appears on almost every page. The front and back endpapers show a cutaway view of one of the vessels. This fascinating, little-known slice of history should prove interesting to every child who loves big boats.
-- Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI (review originally published by Reed Business Information, Inc.)
The book Lightship, by Brian Floca, can be purchased on Amazon.com. For more information about lightships, click on Brian Floca's blog.
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Poem posted on LV-112 while in service on Nantucket Shoals Lightship Station
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"When a sailor gets to thinking
He is one of the best
Let him ship out on a lightship
And take the acid test.
And if he feels like bragging
I don't think that all of his tales
Will be of deep sea sailing
But of the ship that never
Sails!"
Poem provided by Peter Brunk, USCG-Ret., Commanding Officer, Nantucket/LV-112, 1970-71, who serves on the USLM Board of Directors.
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This comprehensive New England shipwreck website is a helpful resource for SCUBA divers, maritime history researchers and enthusiasts. The site includes many photographs, charts, reference documents and history about numerous shipwrecks located in New England waters. For more information, click here.
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The Sinking of the U-853 by Capt. William Palmer
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When the German enemy submarine U-853 entered U.S. waters off Portland, Maine, in 1945, it torpedoed and sank the USS Eagle-56. Nantucket/LV-112, converted to the examination vessel USS Nantucket (1942-45) during WWII, helped save the crew of the USS Eagle-56. This is a book about the U-853 story, researched and written by Capt. Bill Palmer, a long-time shipwreck researcher, diver and preservationist.
Book description: "Out in the cold Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rhode Island, lies the remains of what was once a feared and mighty hunter. It's not a fish or shark, for that matter it is not even a marine creature. It's what men feared the most when they went to sea aboard their vessel back during the World War II years. It's a German submarine called a U-boat. The U-853 was the last German submarine sunk in World War II. She was sunk with all hands just minutes before World War II ended. The once mighty hunter feared by all who put to sea, now lies in 130 feet of water off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island, her grave marked only by a circle on the nautical charts, DANGER Unexploded Depth Charges, May 1945."
Capt. Palmer has been running a charter boat for wreck-diving, shark-fishing and shark-cage-diving off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut for 40 years.
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German U-boat attack off Portland, Maine, during WWII, involving LV-112 (USS Nantucket)
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This book is the story of a small U.S. sub-chaser, the Eagle 56, caught in the crosshairs of a German U-boat, the U-853, whose brazen commander doomed his own crew in a desperate, last-ditch attempt to record final kills before his country's imminent defeat a few weeks later in May. And it is the account of how one man, Paul M. Lawton, embarked on an unrelenting quest for the truth and changed naval history.
| | "The Finest Hours—" Book and Movie | |
"In February of 1952, one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging an oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half. On a small lifeboat faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot high waves, four members of the U.S. Coast Guard (Bernie Webber and three other crewmen) set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors trapped aboard the rapidly sinking vessel. 'The Finest Hours' is the story of their heroic mission, which is still considered the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history."
(Michelle McCue, 9/9/14)
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Bernie Webber, who later served on Nantucket/LV-112 (1958-60) and the three other crewmen were awarded the coveted USCG Gold Lifesaving Medal for their heroism in what is considered by maritime historians to be "the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history." Mr. Webber, who was a member of the USCG Lightship Sailors Association, was extremely helpful in assisting the USLM-Nantucket/LV-112 compile research information and historic documents about LV-112. He was a pleasure and honor to work with. Bernie passed away in January 2009. He was considered a real American hero and is dearly missed.
| | The full-length movie "The Finest Hours' is available on DVD. | |
Explore the oceans in depth and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution with
Oceanus magazine
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Oceanus explores the oceans in depth, highlighting the research and researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in news, features and interviews written by magazine staff, with full-color photographs and illustrations. Each issue covers a wide spectrum of oceanography, spanning coastal research, marine life, deep-ocean exploration and the ocean's role in climate, as well as ocean technology and policy. To learn more, click on magazine cover.
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Lightships, Lighthouses & Lifeboat Stations: A memoir and history
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Lightships, Lighthouses & Lifeboat Stations is part history book, part memoir, written by Bernie Webber, recipient of the Coast Guard's highest award, the Gold Life-saving Medal, and hero of the Disney movie The Finest Hours. While the public will recognize Webber's name from the movie and the bestselling book by the same name, few people know that during his lengthy Coast Guard career he served on lightships (ships anchored in dangerous areas to warn other vessels of hazards) in addition to lifeboat stations (small boat rescue stations) and lighthouses. Webber poses the following question: "How did the lightship men cope with the isolation, constant loneliness, boredom, fear, or just sheer terror? All were part of life on board a lightship. Rough seas tossed the ship about, rearing up and down on the anchor chain. This was a world of isolation, noise from operating machinery, and blasts from the powerful foghorn that went on for hours, sometimes days, at a time." Webber answers that question in this book, drawing on a combination of personal experience and meticulous historical research. Discussions of men going mad, lightships being run down by larger ships, anchor chains breaking, and lightships cast upon shoals are offset by humorous stories and the author's reflections on his best days at sea. Fourteen historic photos are included, as well as a foreword by Michael Tougias (reprinted from Amazon).
| | Help support the restoration of LV-112 by donating your old car and receive a tax deduction | | |
How it works
We have teamed with Charitable Auto Resources, Inc. (CARS), to accept vehicle donations across the United States. Once you contact our customer service representative about making a donation, everything will be taken care of, including a receipt for your tax records. Sale proceeds will be donated to the USLM in your name. Donating your vehicle to the U.S. Lightship Museum is as easy as calling our representative toll-free at 855-500-7433. For more information, click here.
| | The Lightships of Cape Cod | | | | Authored by Frederic L. Thompson, 1996, 2nd printing, 112 pages, soft wrap. Signed by the author. Illustrated with over 93 beautifully detailed photographs. Much sought-after, this scarce volume chronicles the history of the lightships in this vital area. Wonderfully detailed black-and-white photographs enhance the author's vivid description of the history and life aboard these vessels. One of the only volumes ever written exclusively on this subject, this fine work will make a fine addition to any library. Price: $14.95 plus shipping ($5.95), total: $20.90. May be purchased online from the USLM; just click on "Donate" button in this newsletter and add a notation in the area provided. Or mail a check or money order addressed to: U.S. Lightship Museum, PO Box 454, Amesbury, MA 10913 | |
At left, students visit LV-112's pilot house and pretend they are steering the lightship. At right, a crew member rings the bell on the foredeck of Nantucket New South Shoal No. 1 during low-visibility storm conditions. The illustration is from "Life on the South Shoal Lightship" by Gustov Kobbe, Century Magazine, August 1891.
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Kenrick A. Claflin & Son Nautical Antiques
Lighthouseantiques.net
| Click on the website link above to see nautical artifacts available at Kenrick A. Claflin & Son Nautical Antiques, which has donated publications to the USLM. | | |
The United States Lightship Museum
The U.S. Lightship Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue and preservation of Nantucket Lightship/LV-112, a National Historic Landmark and a National Treasure. LV-112 is a museum and floating learning center, open to the general public -- a place for people of all ages to learn about our nation's seafaring history and the technologies that advanced the nautical and marine sciences.
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