The USLHT Amaranth was a schooner-rigged, twin-screw lighthouse tender with a wooden hull, built for the United States Lighthouse Service. Constructed by the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company in Cleveland, Ohio, she was authorized on August 30, 1890, with construction contract signed on May 10, 1891. Launched on December 18, 1891, the vessel was accepted into service on April 14, 1892. Her design featured a schooner rig and twin screws, enabling her to operate efficiently on the Great Lakes, specifically from her base in Detroit. Throughout her service, Amaranth primarily operated on Lake Superior, providing logistical support and maintaining navigational aids such as lighthouses. Her duties included routine supply runs to remote stations like Passage Island Light Station. On July 23, 1920, she sustained notable damage when she struck submerged rocks near Passage Island, resulting in the loss of her rudder and shoe. The vessel was repaired by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company in Ontario, receiving new boilers and returning to service. During World War I, in accordance with government orders, Amaranth was transferred from the Lighthouse Service to the U.S. Navy on April 16, 1917, and assigned to the 9th Naval District. Despite this, her duties remained similar to her previous operations, focusing on support and navigation. After the war, she reverted to the Department of Commerce on July 1, 1919. In 1939, the Lighthouse Service was merged into the U.S. Coast Guard, and Amaranth was redesignated USCGC Amaranth (WAGL-201). During World War II, she was stationed in Duluth, Minnesota, where she continued to maintain navigational aids on Lake Superior, now operating as part of the Coast Guard under Navy control. She was decommissioned on September 29, 1945, and sold on October 19, 1946. Subsequently, she served as the private freighter South Wind until being laid up in 1954. The Amaranth’s service exemplifies the evolution of vessel roles in maritime navigation and wartime support in the Great Lakes region.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.