LIGHT AT STEEPLE ROCK

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1933, Page 13

LIGHT AT STEEPLE ROCK

Am JO NAVIGATION

HARBOUR BOARD DECISION

■A" recommendation from the wharves and accounts committee providing for the erection, of an occulting ! (flashing) light at Steeple Bock, opposite Seatoun, to be proceeded -with -forthwith in accordance with the reports of the harbourmaster and the engineer at an estimated cost of £1600, was adopted by the Harbour Board at its meeting last night. This lighted beacon, which, it is considered, wjll facilitate navigation at the harbour entrance, will replace the existing black buoy. In a statement he read to the board, tho chairman (Mr. G. M. Turrell) said that some years ago, for the purpose of' assisting, vessels navigating the harbour entrance, a black buoy was placed off Steeple Eoek, situated on the western side of the channel, opposite Sear totin. Later the board was approached by the Merchant Service Guild with a request that the buoy be replaced by a lighted beacon. ' The Government having anrionnced its intention of removing the main lighthouse at Pencarrow to Baring Head, the board decided, with the shifting of the lighthouse, to proceed with the work of erecting a lighted beacon at Steeple Bock. ■

"Although a certain amount of preliminary work has been done at Baring Head," said Mr. Turrell, "the Pencarrow lighthouse has not yet been shifted by tho Government. The board has therefore now decided to proceed forthwith with, roplacing the existing black buoy afc Steeple Bock by a lighted beacon, the opinion of tho harbourmaster being that, in this form, it -would assist lighter draught vessels in keeping on the proper side of the channel, and' generally facilitate navigation at this part of the entrance, particularly at night time. "Tho new beacon will bo built in a similar way to the one at Point Jem; ingham, the concrete shell being made on shore and transported into position by the board's floating crane Hikitia, and then filled, with concrete. This means of building the structure is not so dependent on weather conditions. The beacon will be lit by a characteristic- occulting light."