Lightship Portsmouth

Lightship LV-101 was built in 1915 by the Delaware shipbuilders, Pusey and Jones. This sturdy vessel is 102’ in length and displaces 360 tons of water. The whaleback steel hull is only one of two built of that design. During 48 years of service, the lightship marked dangerous waterways including stations off Massachusetts, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Decommissioned in 1964, the ship was donated to the city of Portsmouth and became a floating maritime museum. Beautifully restored, this remarkable floating sentinel looks ready to embark on a fresh voyage.