United States lightship Relief, Museum lightship in Oakland, United States

The United States Lightship Relief is a former Coast Guard vessel in Oakland that served as a floating lighthouse to guide ships through dangerous channels. The steel-hulled ship with two masts and complete navigation equipment can be visited today and shows how such vessels operated around the clock.

The vessel was built in 1950 and initially stationed on the east coast, where it helped sailors navigate dangerous tidal currents. In the 1960s it was moved to the west coast, where it was eventually preserved as a museum ship.

This vessel represents a nearly forgotten role in maritime history, when specialized crews worked from the sea to help sailors find safe passage through dangerous waters. Visitors can imagine how daily light signals and radio operations from this small ship saved lives at sea.

The ship is docked at the waterfront in central Oakland and is easily reached on foot from other sights in the city. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as boarding involves several stairs and moving across open decks.

Launched on March 4, 1950, just sixteen days after her sister ship Columbia, WLV-605 was delivered fully fitted to the Coast Guard on February 11, 1951. She was laid down as WAL-605 at the Rice Brothers shipyard in East Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and later carried the name Relief while relieving other lightships on the Pacific coast.