wlv-605 was laid down as wal-605 in 1949 at the rice brothers shipyard in east boothbay harbor, maine. she was launched on march 4, 1950, just sixteen days after "columbia", and was delivered, fully fitted, to the coast guard in february 11, 1951. she began service at the lightstation "overfalls" at the entrance to delaware bay, serving until 1960, when the station was discontinued. she then sailed to the west coast, where she served at "blunts reef" until 1969; during this time coast guard lightvessels were redesignated, and she was redesignated wlv-605. she was then given the name "relief", assigned duty to relieve other lightships on the pacific coast. she was retired from service in 1975 and decommissioned the following year.