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The Lightship Columbia (WLV-604)
In 1892 the
first lightship station on the U.S. Pacific Coast was
established to mark the approach to the hazardous Columbia River
bar. WLV-604 is the last of four lightships to serve the
station, 5.3 miles off the river’s mouth, and she spent her
whole active career there. She was the last operational U.S.
lightship on the West Coast.
WLV-604 was launched by Rice Brothers as East
Boothbay, Maine in 1950. She displaces 617 tons, measuring 128 x
30 feet, with a draft of 11 feet. She had a crew of 17 when in
service. Aids to navigation include a 600,000 candle-power light
visible for up to 13 miles away, diaphone fog horns of 5-mile
range, and a radio beacon.
The ship first
took station in 1951 and last left it on November 2, 1979, after
being replaced by an automated buoy fitted with radio and radar
beacons, as well as a light. The Coast Guard decommissioned
WLV-604 on December 12, 1979.
Columbia River Maritime Museum
Founded in 1962,
this private, non-profit museum is devoted to maritime history,
emphasizing that of the Columbia River system and the Northwest
coast. In 1982 it opened a new riverfront facility at 1792
Marine Drive in Astoria, Oregon. Exhibits cover small craft,
marine engines, early exploration and fur trading in the
Northwest, navigation and marine safety, fishing, shipbuilding,
riverboats, sailing ships, steamships, and the U.S. Navy. Some
highlights are a Coast Guard 39 foot motor lifeboat, the bridge
of a Navy destroyer, superlative models, fascinating nautical
instruments, and submarine periscopes mounted to provide a view
over the river.
Sunset Empire
Amateur Radio Club (SEARC)
The Club was formed in 1971
and is county-wide in scope. We use the call W7BU, which was
formerly assigned to Wayne Harris. Wayne was a local radio
amateur pioneer and a maritime commercial radio officer.
Through an agreement with the
Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Sunset
Amateur Radio Club activated the Lightship Columbia
radio shack on May 11, 1982. The club callsign W7BU, was on the
air at this time with Ed Aho, (NR7F) W7LY, as Trustee. The first
antenna tuner used on the lightship was “Homebrew” designed by
Phil Veek, WA7RXW. The first antenna used was a “cage antenna”
and is still on the ship. The primary operators of the radio
station are Gene Brown, W7YCK, and Ed Aho, W7LY. The Lightship
Columbia radio station has been quite active in various special
events.
The art of radio
communication is closely associated with the history of radio
navigational aids provided over the years for ships at sea. The
club has activated the radio room of the old lightship, using
amateur radio frequencies and licensed amateur radio operators.
The radio club
trusts that one of the results of the project will be the
retention of the nostalgic memories and experiences of those
communicators who have served at sea. |
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