In the early morning hours of October 20, 2021, the Lightship Columbia Drydock Project got underway.
She was towed (pushed, actually, by the towboat Toni B.) to her temporary home at Diversified Marine, Inc. in Portland.
Diversified Marine, Inc. will inspect, clean, sandblast, repair and repaint the hull, decks, superstructure, masts, fittings and rigging.
While undergoing her face lift, the engine room and other areas below deck that have been closed
to the public since 1979 will be restored and modified into new exhibit spaces.
The Columbia is anticipated to return to the Museum in Astoria in spring 2022.
Check back with us regularly as we track the project, update milestones, and post photos and video of the work.
She was towed (pushed, actually, by the towboat Toni B.) to her temporary home at Diversified Marine, Inc. in Portland.
Diversified Marine, Inc. will inspect, clean, sandblast, repair and repaint the hull, decks, superstructure, masts, fittings and rigging.
While undergoing her face lift, the engine room and other areas below deck that have been closed
to the public since 1979 will be restored and modified into new exhibit spaces.
The Columbia is anticipated to return to the Museum in Astoria in spring 2022.
Check back with us regularly as we track the project, update milestones, and post photos and video of the work.
October 19, 2021 - Final Preparations for the Journey
October 19 - 20, 2021- Headed to Portland
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October 20, 2021 - The Lightship Arrives Safely at DMI
November 2021 - Interior Work at Diversified Marine
December 2021 - Moved on to Drydock for Exterior Work
January 2022 - Interior & Exterior Work Continues
DMI plans to remove the Columbia from drydock February 8-10. Interior work will continue through the end of February.
The prop has been removed and four coats of paint blasted off.
The prop will be added to the Museum’s outdoor displays.
According to the ship’s paperwork, the prop is 2,200 pounds.
5 bundles of approximately 120 feet each of chain have been removed from the ship.
Most of the wheelhouse and railing around it are brass.
Only six lightships were built with brass pilot houses.
We are working on a way to show visitors this unique feature of Columbia
while staying with Columbia’s historically accurate white paint on the superstructure.
The ship’s many fuel, ballast and water tanks have been drained, cleaned and painted.
DMI is working on a design to use LED lighting to show visitors the bilges.
The hull has been sandblasted and coated with epoxy before the first coat of red paint was applied.
DMI plans to remove the Columbia from drydock February 8-10. Interior work will continue through the end of February.
The prop has been removed and four coats of paint blasted off.
The prop will be added to the Museum’s outdoor displays.
According to the ship’s paperwork, the prop is 2,200 pounds.
5 bundles of approximately 120 feet each of chain have been removed from the ship.
Most of the wheelhouse and railing around it are brass.
Only six lightships were built with brass pilot houses.
We are working on a way to show visitors this unique feature of Columbia
while staying with Columbia’s historically accurate white paint on the superstructure.
The ship’s many fuel, ballast and water tanks have been drained, cleaned and painted.
DMI is working on a design to use LED lighting to show visitors the bilges.
The hull has been sandblasted and coated with epoxy before the first coat of red paint was applied.
February 2022 - Facilities Department Visit to Drydock
Exterior Hull Painting Done, Work on the Masts Continues
DMI will move Columbia off drydock mid-month - interior work will continue for the next 3 to 4 weeks.
The hull of Columbia is in great shape!
Approximately 200 ultra sound readings of the hull steel were taken - all indications are that the hull is in exceptionally good shape!
One of the interior projects was to improve the lighting onboard.
The ballasts have been removed from all the old, original light fixtures and have been replaced with LED lighting.
March 2022
Columbia is back in the water at DMI.
The final phase of blasting and top coating the deck is underway.
Mid-March work will include the final colors being painted topside, and a planned tow back to Astoria.
Once towed to Astoria, the Lightship will be at Tongue Point for a few weeks to allow completion of some final work including installation of a new gangway that will provide access during extreme high and low tides.
Before the Lightship is returned to her customary spot at the Museum, the Large Navigation Buoy (LNB) will be situated in its previous location (in front of the bow of the Lightship), with Columbia moored directly behind it.
WCT Marine Construction, of Astoria, has been contracted to restore the LNB, which had suffered from significant rust
and metal degradation over the decades. The project consists mostly of structural and aesthetic external repairs,
with some minor repairs and maintenance on the interior.
April 2022
The Lightship Columbia returns to Astoria!
She was pushed home by the tugboat Mariner on Saturday, April 2, 2022, arriving at Tongue Point around 4:00PM.
Thanks to all of our Lightship friends who sent pictures of her journey from DMI in Portland.
Columbia will remain at Tongue Point while the project wraps up - including the completion of the restoration of the
Large Navigation Buoy at WCT Marine.
The buoy will be returned to CRMM first, and once in place, the Lightship will be maneuvered into position behind the buoy,
the new improved gangway installed and the spuds dropped to hold Columbia in position.
We can't wait to have her back at home at the Museum!
June 1, 2022
The Lightship Columbia returns to the Columbia River Maritime Museum!
Work is continuing on final stages of the project, including the installation of a new gangway system
that will provide improved access to the lightship.
Stay tuned for updates on when Columbia will be once again open to the public.
Both the Lightship and the Large Navigation Buoy that replaced her at the mouth of the river in 1979 can be seen from the Museum's Plaza.
Stop by and take a look!
The Lightship Columbia returns to the Columbia River Maritime Museum!
Work is continuing on final stages of the project, including the installation of a new gangway system
that will provide improved access to the lightship.
Stay tuned for updates on when Columbia will be once again open to the public.
Both the Lightship and the Large Navigation Buoy that replaced her at the mouth of the river in 1979 can be seen from the Museum's Plaza.
Stop by and take a look!
