This is a follow up on our recent discussion. The local newspaper in New Bedford Massachusetts is reporting that the city administration plans on posting an auction for the lightship on eBay in December. The lucky winning bidder will have 14 days after the papers change hands to file a plan with the Coast Guard for how they are going to get the lightship out of New Bedford. The article says the city is reserving the right to cancel out of the deal if the arrangements for the lightship are not to their satisfaction:

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11 ... 5local.htm

Just a note to follow up on this posting, the New Bedford Standard-Times reported that the auction of the lightship on eBay ended up with a buyer, but of course the sale is contingent on them filing a suitable removal plan for the vessel. The city had claimed that they would recover a substantial part of the cost of righting the neglected city-owned vessel (which rolled over and sank in shallow water) through the eBay auction. The last I heard the city had spent about $212,000 in the righting and cleanup of the vessel. I heard the eBay auction netted about $1,700.

Another historic vessel squandered by the City of Progress.