The Barnegat Lighthouse was widely-regarded as one of the most important change-of-course  points for coastal vessels.  Over a 20 year period there was at least 50 strandings on the area shoals. The Barnegat Light Station had no fog signal. Even if it had, vessels could not risk approaching close enough to pick up the signal for fear of getting caught up in the shoals.  It had become apparent that beach erosion soon might topple the lighthouse.

The U.S. Lighthouse Service was in favor of establishing a vessel equipped with a fog signal, a submarine bell, lights, and a radio beacon. Thus the Barnegat Lightship was established in 1927.

Lightship LV79 WAL 506 took up the station on August 15, 1927, after it had served as the Five Fathom Bank Lightship for nearly 20 years  It was a 129 foot ship built in 1904 at the cost of $89,030.  WAL 506 was originally equipped with oil lanterns atop its masts and later it was converted to electric beacons.   The vessel served until 1942 when it was taken off station due to World War II.   It was used as a examination vessel in Edgemoor Delaware during the war. After the war it returned to the Barnegat station until 1967 when the station was discontinued.

The vessel was decommissioned later that year and was donated to the Chesapeake Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland.  The museum kept it around for 3 years but could not keep up the expense of maintaining it. They eventually sold it to the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guide in the  Philadelphia PA - Camden NJ area and it is now located at the Camden Museum and Training Center.

The Barnegat Light, affectionately known as "Old Barney" is still standing but was discontinued January 1, 1944

Researched & Prepared by Hal Dean