Long Island was a 167-ton steam trawler built as a civilian ship until purchased by the United States Navy and commissioned as USS Long Island (SP-572). Long Island was built in 1912 by Cobb & Butler in Rockland, Maine and purchased by the US Navy 18 April 1917 from her owner, George B. Morrill. She was taken over 1 May 1917 and enrolled in the Naval Coast Defense Reserve 2 May 1917; and commissioned 8 May 1917 at Boston.