L.A. Port Waives Rent for Ex-Military Ship

Giving a break to one of its historical landmarks, Los Angeles harbor commissioners Wednesday agreed to give the group operating the SS Lane Victory a five-year lease agreement that eliminates the vessel’s $54,000 annual rent.

The rent-free deal spells major relief for the volunteer group that maintains the old military transport ship, which costs more than $200,000 a year to operate. The Lane Victory has been berthed at the Port of Los Angeles since 1989, when former U.S. Merchant Marines began a massive restoration project on the 455-foot vessel.

Today, the Lane Victory--which served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War--is still fully operational and serves as a floating memorial dedicated to the merchant seamen who lost their lives in wartime. The ship also offers six one-day cruises to Catalina each summer, complete with a simulated Nazi bomber attack.

Recently, however, rising rent costs had threatened to sink the historic merchant vessel, say members of the U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II, which maintains the ship.

“This is great. You can breathe a sigh of relief,” said Clint Johnson, vice president of the group.

Wednesday’s agreement was approved on a 4-0 vote by the Board of Harbor Commissioners. Jeff Leong, a Los Angeles port spokesman, said the rent waiver affirms that the Lane Victory has been a “wonderful attraction.”

In addition to a rent-free lease, the organization will receive a refund on rent money retroactive to last October--or more than $35,000.

“The Lane Victory has been very popular here, and has probably brought visitors down here that might not have otherwise seen the harbor,” Leong said.

Leaders of the Merchant Marine veterans’ group first obtained the vessel in 1987, capping a five-year search for a restorable military transport. Under its agreement with the federal government, the organization--composed entirely of volunteers, most in their 60s, 70s and 80s--is responsible for the Lane Victory’s maintenance, operation and repairs. If it can’t meet the costs, the vessel reverts to the Navy’s ready reserve fleet.

The organization relies on membership dues, tour proceeds and revenues from the six Catalina cruises, as well as fees from production companies that have used the ship in movies, commercials and TV shows. (The Lane Victory provided the ship’s wake in “Titanic.”)

But with insurance costs totaling more than $50,000 a year and a recent $400,000 overhaul, finances had gotten tight. Nonetheless, Johnson said discussions with port authorities about reducing rent costs had gone smoothly.

Johnson points out that in addition to being a tourist attraction, the Lane Victory has given back to the community by providing a training site for police and fire departments.

“We’re good citizens doing a good service,” Johnson said. “We’re a good asset to the harbor.”