Swiftsure Lightship (LV-83/WAL-513)

History of the Swiftsure Lightship (LV-83/WAL-513)

Posted/Updated by Bryan Penberthy on 2006-02-20.

Light vessel 83 is one of the oldest lightships in the country. It was built in Camden, NJ in 1904 at a cost of $90,000. It was placed into duty on the West Coast with its first assignment being Blunts Reef in California. To get there, it steamed around the tip of South America.

According to the US Coast Guard, the LV83/WAL 508 lightship served many posts.

• 1905-1930: Blunts Reef (CA)
• 1930-1942: San Francisco (CA)
• 1942-1945: Examination Vessel, WWII, outfitted for Navy use
• 1945-1951: San Francisco (CA)
• 1951-1960: Relief (West Coast)

The name RELIEF was given due to the nature of the assignments. It would steam to other positions when another ship needed to be removed from service for maintenance. The name Swiftsure was given in 1995 and came about as the turning mark for the annual international Swiftsure yacht race.

Directions: The lightship sits at the Northwest Seaport in South Lake Union Park in Downtown Seattle. The park is at Terry Ave. N. and Valley Street.

Access: Grounds open. Tower closed.

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