Swiftsure
Encyclopedia
Lightship #83, now called Swiftsure, is a lightvessel
launched in Camden, New Jersey
, USA in 1904 and now moored in Seattle, Washington
. She steamed around the tip of South America
to her first station at Blunts Reef in California
, where she saved 150 people when their ship ran aground in dense fog. Formerly known as Relief, Number 83 had numerous names on her sides, all of which indicated the location of her station. Swiftsure refers to the Swiftsure Bank near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca
, which separates Washington from Vancouver Island
. She also guided ships near Umatilla Reef and the Columbia River
Bar.
Swiftsure is one of the oldest lightship
s in the country and the only one to have her original steam engines. She is 129 feet long, with a beam
of 28 feet, six inches and a draft
of 12 feet, six inches. Her displacement
is 668 tons. Her aids to navigation include a 1,000 watt primary light, a 140-decibel Diaphone
horn, and a 1,000 pound foredeck fog bell.
The ship was decommissioned in 1960, and purchased by Northwest Seaport
in 1969. She is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1989, and is on the Washington State Heritage Register
. She is moored on Lake Union
, in Seattle, Washington, for restoration.
Lightvessel
A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
launched in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, USA in 1904 and now moored in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. She steamed around the tip of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to her first station at Blunts Reef in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where she saved 150 people when their ship ran aground in dense fog. Formerly known as Relief, Number 83 had numerous names on her sides, all of which indicated the location of her station. Swiftsure refers to the Swiftsure Bank near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water about long that is the Salish Sea outlet to the Pacific Ocean...
, which separates Washington from Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
. She also guided ships near Umatilla Reef and the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
Bar.
Swiftsure is one of the oldest lightship
Lightvessel
A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
s in the country and the only one to have her original steam engines. She is 129 feet long, with a beam
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
of 28 feet, six inches and a draft
Draft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
of 12 feet, six inches. Her displacement
Displacement (fluid)
In fluid mechanics, displacement occurs when an object is immersed in a fluid, pushing it out of the way and taking its place. The volume of the fluid displaced can then be measured, as in the illustration, and from this the volume of the immersed object can be deduced .An object that sinks...
is 668 tons. Her aids to navigation include a 1,000 watt primary light, a 140-decibel Diaphone
Diaphone
For Diaphone, the Noctuid moth species see Diaphone The diaphone was a noisemaking device best known for its use as a foghorn: it could produce deep, powerful tones able to carry a long distance...
horn, and a 1,000 pound foredeck fog bell.
The ship was decommissioned in 1960, and purchased by Northwest Seaport
Northwest Seaport
The Northwest Seaport Maritime Heritage Center is a nonprofit organization in Seattle, Washington dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Puget Sound and Northwest Coast maritime heritage, expressed through educational programs and experiences available to the public...
in 1969. She is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1989, and is on the Washington State Heritage Register
Washington State Heritage Register
The Washington Heritage Register is an official list of sites and properties found throughout Washington State, United States.The Washington Heritage Register is administered by the Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, and it is governed by several state laws...
. She is moored on Lake Union
Lake Union
Lake Union is a freshwater lake entirely within the Seattle, Washington city limits.-Origins:A glacial lake, its basin was dug 12,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier, which also created Lake Washington and Seattle's Green, Bitter, and Haller Lakes.-Name:...
, in Seattle, Washington, for restoration.
External links
- Northwest Seaport - Lightship Swiftsure
- Maritime Heritage Network
- HNSA Ship Page: Lightship Swiftsure
- Lightship No. 83: 1 photo, 6 drawings, and 5 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey