Nantucket Lightship relocation deal is scuttled

A deal for the historic Nantucket Lightship, which has been docked in Oyster Bay for more than five years, to move to a new permanent home in Stamford, Conn., has fallen through, leaving the owner of the floating lighthouse scrambling to find a new site.Jerry Roberts, a board member of the National Lighthouse Museum, which owns the 72-year-old vessel and has been trying unsuccessfully for a decade to get a facility opened in Staten Island that would incorporate the lightship, said it is imperative to find a new permanent home before the vessel deteriorates beyond repair.

But if the search proves fruitless, Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto reiterated his past offer for the town to consider stepping up to become the owner of last resort.

Roberts, director of the Connecticut River Museum in Essex, Conn., said an agreement had been worked out for the ship to become the centerpiece of a $7-billion waterfront hotel and restaurant complex in Stamford. But that arrangement fell through. “Now I’m quite desperate to find a good home for the ship,” said Roberts. He said he would like to find a site in New England, where the lightship had been based when operated by the Coast Guard. “We’re looking for a qualified nonprofit or civic organization that will look after the best interests of the ship because it is a national landmark.”

“Oyster Bay has been a phenomenal safe haven,” Roberts said. “They’ve gone beyond the call of duty in being patient with us.”

Venditto said, “I’m hopeful the lightship will find a solution elsewhere. But I have no problem giving the guy the balance of the calendar year and then we’ll re-evaluate things. I’m still holding myself out as the port of last resort.”

But Venditto said other town officials are very concerned about the red, 150-foot ship remaining in Oyster Bay and the potential legal and financial liability that might ensue. “They are telling me ‘You have no idea of the amount of money involved,’” Venditto said. “It’s many hundreds of thousands of dollars. They’re talking about the potential for damage to occur if the perfect storm pops up. And even without a storm they’re worried about damage that might be occurring to the dock.” The ship is tied up at the town-owned dock at The Waterfront Center.

By Bill Bleyer

Newsday