WHISPS OF SPRAY

Southland Times, Issue 19540, 2 May 1925, Page 13

WHISPS OF SPRAY

LIGHTS AND BEACONS (By R. W.) To the average landsman, who stands on the coastline and watches the nearest lighthouse as it shows its beam of light, whether it be a fixed steady beam, or one whidfe flashes intermittently, fast or slow, its varied phases will convey but little. To the seaman, however, each lighthouse is making a distinctive sign, signalling its name and locality, as it were, pointing out the position of some danger spot and warning him when to alter his course. These torches tell him his position on the trackless deep, just as a road sign-post directs the motorist. To such a state of perfection have the lighting and buoying systems of the world been brought to-day, that, barring fog, the master mariner can navigate his ship with confidence and safety through the narrowest cf waters on the blackest of nights, even though he may be a complete stranger to the locality. Altogether round the coasts of England and Wales alone, there are over 1,600 lights exhibited from shore stations, harbour walls and vessels anchored at sea, while around our own New Zealand coasts are some 105 lights, and these numbers do not include those shown from numerous gas buoys and beacons, which are used to denote the fairways in estuary and harbour approaches. For the purpose of distinction these lights are classified as:—Fixed, meaning these which show a continuous steady beam; Flashing, showing a single flash at regular intervals, the duration of light being always less than that of the ensuing darkness or eclipse; Group Flashing, those which show a group of two or more flashes at regular intervals; Occulting, those which show a steady light with a sudden eclipse at regular intervals, the duration cf darkness being always equal to or less than that of the I'ght; Group Occulting, showing a steady light with a group of two or more sudden eclipses at regular intervals,; Fixed and Group Flashing, those which show a steady light which at regular intervals emits a group of flashes of relatively greater brilliancy. All these types may also be made to show certain changes of colour, so it will be readily seen what an enormous number of combinations can be evolved from such a system, and it can be realized easily why a careful ship master can at once know his position by reading the character of the light he is approaching. The definite character of every light is given in a publication known as the Admiralty Light List and is shown on charts by symbols representing an abbreviated description of the character of each light. The power of the light shown at a station is indicated in candle power, that of light vessels varying from 1,000 to 140,000 candle power. The Girdler Light vessel moored at the entrance to the Thames»Estuary heads the light vessels of the United Kingdom with 140,000 candle power, and is visible for a distance of 10 miles. This to the uninitiated is very confusing because the Nore Light vessel, which only has a candle power of 2,000, is visible under the same conditions for a distance of 11 miles. The same applies to lighthouses and the following example will show what I mean; Spurn Point Lighthouse at the mouth of the river Humber has an illuminative power of a little over 500,000 candles, and is visible only 17 miles, whilst the South Stack lighthouse near Holyhead has only a power of 274,000 candles and is visible for 20 miles under similar conditions. The explanation, however, is simple. In computing the range of visibility of any light it is presumed that the eyes of the observers are 15 feet above sea level, therefore, upon the height iof the lantern depends the calculated range of visibility owing to the curvature of the earth. In this case the more powerful light quoted, Spurn Point, only stands 120 feet above sea level, while the height of the South Stack Light is 197 feet. Very few of the light static ls of the world are equipped with electrical apparatus for supplying the illuminant, which, in the -majority of cases, is derived from the use of petroleum, petroleum vapour, or acetylene gas. The rays are concentrated and amplified generally by means of dioptric and catodioptric lenses and reflectors, whilst the mechanism employed in the case of flashing cr occulting light is generally operated by clockwork. All lighthouses are given a distinctive colouring as a day mark. Our nearest lighthouse, Dog Island, has a white tower with black horizontal bands, while light vessels are fitted with distinctive day marks hoisted at the mast head in the shape of cages and balls, in addition to which each bears its name? in huge letters painted on each side. On the coasts of the United States of America many of the light vessels are equipped with steam propelling power, to enable them to remain near their station in the event of mishap to their moorings. In the light ship service it is a point of honour among the commanders never to leave station if it is humanly possible to stay, and many heroic deeds of skill and endurance are to be feund to the credit of the British and U.S.A, services. In the British service there is nd vessel equipped with propelling power, either steam or sail, both lantern and ship being of special construction in order to minimise the effect of celling and pitching in heavy weather. All light vessels carry a full crew, and if it should happen that during a heavy gale the vessel is forced out of position cr for some reason breaks away from her moorings, she will still show her characteristic light, but in addition warning signals, consisting of a red light hoisted at bow and stern, are shown, and a red flare will be burned every 15 minutes.

In the Admiralty Light List it will be noticed that certain lighthouses are described as showing a white light with a red arc or sector. In these cases the red sector shows over a certain “hidden danger” zone. On our own coasts we have such lights, as: Farewell Spit Light, Centre Island Light, Hayward Point Light, Karori Rock light, The Brothers’ Light, Okuri Light, Tiri Tiri Light and Cape Maria Van Diemen Light, so classified as showing the red arc or sector.

The life on board the light-ship—of which we have none on these coasts —is similar to that of a vessel at anchor. The crew, which generally consists of a master, two lamplighters, and two able seamen—known as the sea crew—keep regular watches while on station; but in addition there is always a spare master, lamplighter and able seaman attached to the vessel, who relieve their mates on board every month so that the master serves one month afloat and the following month ashore at the depot, while the others are two months afloat and one ashore. These crews have of necessity to be recruited from men with sea going experience, as their life aboard a light vessel is very similar to that of a seaman in the mercantile marine.

In the ease of inshore stations the life is very different, the men being, in the first instance, drawn from all walks of life. In these cases, especially on our own coasts,

housing accommodation is srpplied close to the tower and although the life of a lighthoues keeper may not appeal to the average longshore man, and although the lighthouses on our coasts are often in very isolated positions, the service is a good one, and the class of men employed are generally of the highest integrity. Serving as they do far from the ken of men in their lonely outposts, keeping the warning and guiding light burning for the safety of those who go down to the sea in ships, the value of their

service is little understood by the man ia the street. • Fog is the bugbear of the seaman but many a station and light vessel sends out its characteristic warning note during foggy weather, in addition to displaying its light, and on a foggy day in the English Channel can be beard fog signals of every kind; the deep booming blast, the shrill siren or the detonated fog signal, showing that the keepera are alert and doing their lonely duty* a duty that has do ending.