Everything You Need to Know About Lightships

A lightship, also called a light ship or a lightvessel - is a ship fitted out with a beacon on a mast that functions in the same way as a lighthouse: To act as a warning and to help other boats and vessels at night or in overcast and unfavorable conditions safely navigate their passage.

Lightships are commonly used in waters that are too deep for a lighthouse to be constructed.

But that’s just the simple answer and as you might have guessed, there’s a little more to lightships than that.

Although they’re now a dying breed, the history of the lightvessel is an interesting one, so keep reading if you’d like to find out more.

In addition, this article is one in our series of guides to different types of boats, yachts, ships and vessels, so if you’d like to read more about gas carrier ships, roro ships, feeder vessels, heavy lift vessels, chemical tankers, icebreaker ships, car carriers, oil tankers, bulk carriers, dredgers, fireboats, crane vessels, ferries and more, you’ve come to the right place.

What are lightships and what do they do?

Whereas a lighthouse is a building - normally constructed as a tower - a lightship, as the name implies is an actual floating vessel.

They were employed in areas where constructing a lighthouse was too dangerous or difficult, or where the waters were too deep. These days, thanks to increasingly sophisticated architectural designs and construction methods, the lightship has mainly fallen out of use.

That’s not to say that the lightvessel has disappeared completely and nowadays these compact vessels are anchored, unattended, and equipped with radio beacons and fog signals.

Because today’s lightships are unmanned, ensuring the light is maintained at all times is crucial. In order to ensure this, a gimbal is used.

Most often associated with filming and photography, a gimbal is a support system that stabilizes a device - such as a camera - allowing it to pivot smoothly when filming footage.

In the lightship’s case, the gimbal is used to keep the light beam upright when the boat is pitching and rolling in rough seas.

However there is one advantage that a lightship has over a lighthouse these days in that it is, obviously, more mobile. This makes it useful when marking a moving hazard, as well as designating harbor approaches and oceanic traffic lanes.

The history of the lightship

Considering that the lightship has mostly fallen out of fashion these days, it probably comes as no surprise to learn it has been around for a while and has quite a rich history.

In fact the lightvessel, in one way shape or form, has existed since Roman times (Roman Empire: 27 BC to 476 AD) when ships used flaming beacons as markers to aid navigation.

Fast forward all the way to 1732 when the first modern lightship, the Nore, was positioned on a submerged sandbank of the same name in the estuary of the River Thames in England.

Interesting fact: The Nore sandbank was the scene of an infamous mutiny in 1797 when seafarers rose up in protest against their conditions.

The leader of the mutiny, one Richard Parker, was subsequently hung from the yardarm of his ship, the HMS Sandwich, two weeks later at 9.30am on the dot.

But although, even today, the shipping industry moves slowly compared to some sectors, maritime evolved further, and the concept of the lightship started to become popular in the United States in the 19th century.

And although the U.S. and the UK were pioneers in lightship usage, countries around the world, such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, also relied on light ships to safeguard busy shipping lanes.

It is in the USA that the design and development of the lightship made huge leaps forward. The most important of which was the redesign of the anchoring system which was modified to provide greater safety and stability in rough seas.

So too was the beacon a focus for modernization and the traditional oil and kerosene lamps gave way to lights that were designed with refractive lenses.

Meanwhile, as the 20th century loomed on the horizon, warning bells were installed on some lightships to act as an additional safety precaution and give an approximation of the lightship’s location when conditions made it difficult to see the lamp.

However, the lightship’s days were (mostly) numbered and, as mentioned earlier, better construction techniques, plus the huge advancements in navigation systems and satellite communications, and the introduction of automated buoys, have overwhelmingly taken over.

Lightships, particularly older models, were also vulnerable to being hit by ships or breaking free of their anchors during storms. Some light ships, and their crew, were even lost at sea due to harsh weather or collisions with larger vessels.

Lightship design and construction

In the past, unsurprisingly, a lightvessel’s hull was constructed of wood. Today’s modern lightships have hulls built from steel or iron, which are not only stronger and more durable, but also non-corrosive and more resistant to damage and the battering of waves and the elements, particularly in harsh climates.

Today, a lightship’s name, the name of their station or location will be painted in large letters on her hull so that she can be easily identified during the day. Many lightships were painted bright red, however in the past, hulls were often color-coded to help seafarers on other vessels pinpoint their location.

Some light ships even became iconic maritime symbols, such as the Lightship Nantucket, which was stationed off the coast of Massachusetts on the east coast of the USA.

Today, a lightship’s name will be painted in large letters on her hull so that she can be easily identified during the day. In the past, hulls were color-coded to help seafarers on other vessels pinpoint their location.

How is a lightship anchored?

It goes without saying that a lightship needs to have a good anchoring system if she is to do her job well. A drifting lightvessel is no use to anyone and could cause a great deal more harm than good.

The lightvessels of the past used fluke anchors to maintain their position. As the name suggests, a fluke anchor has pointed flukes (large flat surfaces or projections) which dig into the mud, sand and sediment, on the bottom of the ocean.

Fluke anchors are still used today for lightvessels, however they aren’t as effective if the bottom is anything other than mud or sand, and they are not usually adequate enough to hold a vessel in the exact same location when the seas are rough, instead dragging along the sea bed so that the vessel moves position.

This is where mushroom anchors come in. Often used for permanent moorings, this type of anchor has a central shank and a head that is shaped like a bowl - just like an upside down mushroom. It sinks to the bottom, and the ‘bowl’ fills with mud or sand which then creates a suction like effect, thus keeping the vessel in place.

What are a lightship’s working hours?

It stands to reason that a lightvessel is pretty much redundant during the day, unless conditions are particularly difficult or there is low visibility - such as in foggy weather. They normally operate from sunset to sunrise, with an additional hour either side to maximize their usefulness and effectiveness.

What did the crew do on a lightship?

Whilst modern lightvessels are unmanned, in the past they had crew onboard. These crew members lived in isolation for long periods, much like lighthouse keepers, often spending weeks or months at sea in challenging conditions.

Naturally the main duties and responsibilities of the crew were to ensure the lamp was well maintained, and lit and extinguished in accordance with its designated hours, but they did have a few other jobs to do.

For example, they would take weather observations, maintain a record of which ships passed them by, and even spring to the rescue of boats and seamen in distress should the need arise and they were nearest to the vessel in trouble.

Carrying cargo, however, wasn’t, and still isn’t, in a lightship’s remit: That was left to the merchant ships - such as the 19th century’s clippers and today's container and cargo ships. Space aboard the lightvessel would have been primarily for crew accommodation and for supplies such as food and drink, tools and equipment, and of course oil or kerosene in the pre-electric light days.

Lightvessels and light ships today

As automation became the norm and maritime technology advanced, the need for lightships diminished. As we’ve seen, by the late 20th century, many were replaced by automated buoys and beacons, which required far less maintenance. The last lightship in the U.S., the aforementioned Lightship Nantucket, was decommissioned in 1985.

Many retired lightships, such as the Nantucket, have been preserved as maritime museums and tourist attractions. Some are open for tours, offering visitors a glimpse into the lives of those who worked on these floating lighthouses.

Where can I visit decommissioned light ships?

As with the Lightship Nantucket, there are a number of other light vessels around the world that have been preserved. If you’re interested in this unique aspect of maritime history, why not add one or more of the following lightships to your next vacation itinerary.

We’ve included links to their websites so you can find out more about each vessel and its location and visiting times.

Lightships in the United States

Lightship Nantucket (Lightship LV-112) - Boston, Massachusetts

We’ll start with arguably the most famous light ship. Known as “America's Lighthouse" the Nantucket was stationed near Nantucket Shoals and is one of the most famous U.S. lightships. It is now a museum in Boston, where you can explore its interior and learn about its history.

Lightship Overfalls (Lightship LV-118) - Lewes, Delaware

The Lightship Overfalls, located in Lewes, Delaware, has been fully restored and serves as a maritime museum. It’s one of only 17 remaining light ships in the U.S.

Lightship Portsmouth (Lightship LV-101) - Portsmouth, Virginia

Docked in Portsmouth, this lightship serves as a museum, giving visitors a glimpse into life on board. It is part of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum.

Lightship Columbia (Lightship WLV-604) - Astoria, Oregon

The Lightship Columbia is preserved at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria. It marked the dangerous entrance to the Columbia River from the Pacific Ocean.

Lightship Frying Pan (Lightship LV-115) - New York City

Stationed on Pier 66 in Manhattan, this former lightship, named for the Frying Pan Shoals it used to guard, has been turned into a popular floating bar and event venue, where visitors can enjoy drinks and live music while experiencing a piece of maritime history.

Light ships in mainland Europe

Lightship Fehmarnbelt - Lübeck, Germany

The Lightship Fehmarnbelt is now a museum ship in Lübeck, Germany, offering visitors insights into its history and operation.

Lightship Borkumriff IV - Emden, Germany

Borkumriff IV is a museum ship in the harbor of Emden. It used to serve as a floating lighthouse in the North Sea near the Dutch island of Borkum.

Lightship Noord Hinder - Antwerp, Belgium

The Noord Hinder is Belgium’s last lightship, now stationed in Antwerp and used as a museum ship, where visitors can explore its deck and interior.

Lightships in the United Kingdom

Trinity Buoy Wharf Lightship (Lightship LV-95) - London

The LV-95, stationed at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London, is a former lightship that has been repurposed as a recording studio and event space, although the exterior retains its lightship heritage.

Lightship LV21 - Gravesend, Kent

LV21, a former lightship, has been transformed into an arts venue and creative space on the Thames Estuary. It regularly hosts exhibitions, performances, and events.

All of these lightships offer a unique experience, whether it’s learning about maritime history, enjoying a modern creative space or just kicking back with a beer and a burger! If you’ve ever visited one of these light ships, or are planning on doing so, we’d love to hear about it on our socials! We’re on Twitter / X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Find out more about other types of vessels

If you’re still hungry for more information and a deeper understanding of some of the other ships that travel the world’s oceans, take a look at some of our other articles in this series which covers everything from cruise ships and fishing boats to supramax vessels. Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about what an icebreaker ship is, find out more below.

Read the previous article in this series: Everything You Need to Know About Icebreaker Ships

Read the next article in this series: Everything You Need to Know About Heavy Lift Vessels

This article was originally published on November 25th 2021 and updated on October 3rd 2024.