Lightship Columbia

The lightship is owned and controlled by the Maritime Museum, and is accessible only during some of the museum hours.  The operators of the radio room are David KE7ZFP and Frank KF7NPC.   If you are a licensed amateur radio operator and you are interested in operating the Columbia’s historic amateur radio station, contact us through w7bu@w7buhams.org and we will forward your contact information to Dave and Frank.

World Radio Day 2024

World Radio Day 2024 was observed at the SEARC shack on the Lightship Columbia. W7BU was on the air from 1000 until 1430 PST. Bob KY7LE, David KE7ZFP and Frank KF7NPC enjoyed talking to visitors about the history of radio, it’s current roles and especially radio’s uses in marine navigation, past and present.

Contacts made included W7FBS, a School Round-up Ham Radio event from student run Forrest Bird Charter School Amateur Radio Club in Sand Point Idaho, AF0AF, a POTA (Parks on the Air) event station in Minnesota and N7JS, Jim, in Ogden Utah. Jim heard about our event from friends in Astoria and, through SEARC, found a frequency to connect with us on.

Thank you to the Columbia River Maritime Museum for the use of Lightship Columbia and advertising our World Radio Day event.

History of the Lightship Columbia (WLV-604)

In 1892 the first lightship station on the U.S. Pacific Coast was established to mark the approach to the hazardous Columbia River bar. WLV-604 is the last of four lightships to serve the station, 5.3 miles off the river’s mouth, and spent her entire active career there. She was the last operational U.S. lightship on the West Coast.WLV-604 was launched by Rice Brothers at East Boothbay, Maine in 1950. She displaces 617 tons, measuring 128 x 30 feet, with a draft of 11 feet. She had a crew of 17 when in service. Aids to navigation include a 600,000 candle-power light visible for up to 13 miles away, diaphone fog horns with a 5-mile range, and a radio beacon.The ship first took station in 1951 and last left it on November 2, 1979, after being replaced by an automated buoy fitted with radio and radar beacons, as well as a light. The Coast Guard decommissioned WLV-604 on December 12, 1979.

      

At this link is a more complete history of lightships at the mouth of the Columbia River:
seatosummitnet.wordpress.com/2015/09/09/1899-the-old-columbia-lightship-sails-over-dry-land/

Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club and the Columbia

Through an agreement with the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club activated the Lightship Columbia radio shack on May 11, 1982. The club call sign W7BU, was on the air at this time with Ed Aho, (NR7F) W7LY, as Trustee. The first antenna tuner used on the lightship was “Homebrew” designed by Phil Veek, WA7RXW. The first antenna used was a “cage antenna” and is still on the ship. The primary operators of the radio station for 28 years were Gene Brown, W7YCK, and Ed Aho, W7LY . Sadly, Gene passed away in 2010 and Ed followed in 2022.  We miss our Silent Keys.

The Lightship Columbia radio station has been quite active in various special events such as the annual ILLW (International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend).

The art of radio communication is closely associated with the history of radio navigational aids provided over the years for ships at sea.  The club has activated the radio room of the old lightship, using amateur radio frequencies and licensed amateur radio operators.  The radio club trusts that one of the results of the project will be the retention of the nostalgic memories and experiences of those communicators who have served at sea.

---

Below are photos showing the SEARC antenna at the top of the Columbia.  Click on the photos to see a larger image.  There are more photos here from the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Lightship Columbia was in Portland during the winter of 2021-22 for refurbishing.  See photos below.  And click here for more photos from the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

See below for ILLW report and photos!

At this link is a youtube video of the Columbia being maneuvered out of the dock at the Maritime Museum on the beginning of her trip upriver to be refurbished.

---

 

The LNB (large navigation buoy) and the Lightship Columbia were returned to the 17th Street pier in spring 2022.

---

Lighthouse/Lightship weekend 2021

International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2021 (August 21/22) saw Neal KI7MCB, David KE7ZFP, Joe N7BF, and Frank KF7NPC spend 8 hours in the SEARC (Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club) shack on board the Lightship Columbia making 24 contacts on 8/21 and 19 contacts on 8/22.

Two Lighthouses were contacted, Cape Canaveral, Florida (US0099) and Cape Mendocino, CA (US0095). Using the “spotter page” on the ILLW web site helped. We kept our operating frequencies up to date there also.

12 States (AZ, N.Mex, OK, TX, CO, UT, CA, AK, ID, NY, LA, FL). 2 Canadian contacts were in Manitoba and Northwest Territories. Joe contacted Roger (DL5RBW) in Munich Germany. David worked CW (Morse code), contacting Mike (WA7RV) in Payson AZ.

A highlight was KJ7WVZ, Lucas in Tucson AZ, making his first contact with his new General ticket!

A steady stream of visitors enjoyed our event, asking many questions about Ham Radio and sharing stories of family members/friends/neighbors who are/were Hams. Several ex-military radio personnel were glad to see the radio room in use.

A fun event. Thank you, CRMM, for the continued use of Lightship Columbia as our Ham shack.

Frank  KF7NPC

Click on the photo to see a larger image.

Lighthouse/Lightship weekend 2020

Neal, KI7MCB, and Frank KF7NPC were on the Columbia from 1600 8/21 until 1030 8/22.  David, KE7ZFP joined us for an hour Saturday am.  We made 56 contacts in 17 states and 3 countries (Japan, Australia, and Canada). 

We operated from 1600 8/21 until 0200 8/22 and from 0600 8/22 until 1030 8/22. We were off the ship before it opened Saturday.

We were unable to contact any other Lighthouses or Lightships.

Click on the photo to see a larger image.