Lightship Ambrose

Lightship Ambrose was the name given to multiple lightships that served as the sentinel beacon marking Ambrose Channel, New York Harbor's main shipping channel.

The first lightstation was established south of the Ambrose Channel off of Sandy Hook, NJ in 1823. From 1823 through 1967, several ships served the Ambrose Channel station; each was referred to as Lightship Ambrose and bore the station's name being painted on its side. In 1906, the lighship serving this station was relocated closer to the center of the Ambrose Channel. On 24 August 1967, the Ambrose station lightship was replaced by a Texas Tower, the Ambrose Light.

A sail-schooner built of white oak with copper and brass fastenings, Sandy Hook marked the south edge of the Ambrose Channel for 37 years, from 1854 to 1891. She was assigned the number 16 in 1862, prior to which she was known simply as the Sandy Hook. Sandy Hook was equipped with 2 lanterns, each with 8 oil lamps and reflectors, as well as a hand rung bell for a fog warning. A Thiers automatic bilge pump, ventilator, and fog signal were installed in 1872; however, the fog signal was found to be "unsatisfactory" and was removed.

Two collisions were recorded during her time in service, the first in 1874 with the steamer Charleston, and the second in 1888 with the British barque Star of the East.

Constructed in 1892, the Sandy Hook (LV-51) served post from 1894 to 1908. This steam engine-powered ship was the first US lightvessel to have an all-steel hull and fastenings and the first to use electric lights; she was also the last ship to hold the southerly post on the southern side of the channel, near Sandy Hook. After 1908, she was reassigned to relief duty. On 24 April 1919, she was rammed and sunk by a Standard Oil barge while relieving the Cornfield Point Lightship (LV-14). As a result of this incident, Standard Oil was forced to pay for the construction of LV111, which served as the Lightship Ambrose from 1932 to 1952.

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