LV11, Trinity House Lightship, Maritime Museum, Rotterdam, Netherlands

This vessel, the former LV11 Trinity House Lightship, is moored near the Het Havenmuseum (Maritime Museum) in Rotterdam, Netherlands.  The ship was originally commissioned in 1951 and served as a lightship in England and Wales until it was withdrawn from service in 1988. It served as Dudgeon station, Morecambe Bay station, St. Gowan station and for a short time was on loan to Mersey Docks and Harbour Board as Bar station.  It was sold in 1991 and eventually rebuilt into a floating restaurant. It was the floating restaurant Breevertien from 2000 to 2002. It was again sold and in 2009 reopened as the Restaurant Tinto.  At the time of taking these photos in April 2013 it remained open as Restaurant Tinto.

LV23 Lightship BAR, Liverpool, England

The LV23 is a Trinity Lightship that is currently moored near Albert Docks in the City of Liverpool, England. The ship was built in 1959 and decomissioned in 1989. It served as the BAR at the entrance to the Mersey River from 1960 to 1972 and later as the "Channel" at various locations from1979 to 1989. When photographed in March 2013 it was being operated as the Planet Bar Lightship, a cafe, bar and museum.

Lightship Columbia, Astoria, Oregon

The Lightship Columbia (WLV604) is one of the highlights of the Columbia River Maritime Museum at Astoria, Oregon. This lightship was stationed at the Columbia River Station between 1951 and 1979. Photos taken in September 2010.

Lightship Ambrose, New York City, New York

The Lightship Ambrose (LV87 - WAL 312) is currently moored at the South Street Seaport which is located on the East River just South of the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. It was built in 1907 and originally stationed at Ambrose Channel, New York. It also was stationed in New Jersey and Mass. Photos taken in April 2010.

Lightship Swiftsure, Seattle, Washington

This lightship is moored at the Marine Heritage Centre on Lake Union near downtown Seattle, Washington. This ship was comissioned in 1904 and originally served as a lightship in California. It was first stationed on the Mendicino coast and later in the San Francisco area. It moved to Washington in 1951 and served as a relief lightship at locations off the Washington coast. The ship was decomissioned in 1960 after 56 years of service (including serving as a coastal patrol boat for the US Navy during WWII). The ship is designated LV83. There are a number of other vintage vessels moored nearby. Photos taken in August 2009.

Lightship Fyrskeep 25 Finngrundet, Stockholm, Sweden

This lightship, built in 1903, is currently moored at the Vasa Museum on the Island of Djurgarden, in Stockholm, Sweden. It is open to the public. The lightship is in beautiful condition. It was decommissioned in 1969. Both the lightship and the museum are worth a visit. Photos taken in June 2009.

Lightship Relandersgrund, Helsinki, Finland

This lightship is currently moored in the downtown area of Helsinki and is used as a floating restaurant. It has a steel hull and was built in 1888 and decomissioned in 1937. It is reported that a drunken Russian crew ran it aground and sank it in 1917 while celebrating the Revolution. It was raised and repaied in Tallinn, Estonia the following year. Photo taken in June 2009.

Lightship Fyrskib XVII (Gedser Rev), Copenhagen, Denmark

This beautiful wooden hulled lightship was built in 1895 and was decomissioned in 1972. It is moored in the popular Nyhaven area of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Lightvessel "Kittiwake", Dublin, Ireland

Originally built in 1957 this lightvessel (or lightfloat) was retired in 2007. It is currently moored on the North side of the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland in front of the O2 complex (formerly Point Depot). When viewed in May 2009 it showed signs of vandalism. Photos taken in May 2009.

Lightvessel "Gannet", Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

The lightvessel Gannet (commonly known as a lightfloat) was built in 1954 and was retired from service in February 2009. I was the last lighfloat in service in Ireland. It formerly rotated between stations at South Rock and Coningberg with two other lighfloats. It was viewed moored in Dun Laoghaire harbour and as of May 2009 was for sale. Photos taken in May 2009.