Da slockin o da Bressay light
TUESDAY night will be the last time when the Bressay lighthouse will guide shipping around the south approach of Lerwick harbour.
From Wednesday morning Lerwick Port Authority takes over responsibility from the Northern Lighthouse Board for the harbour’s southern approach.
The light is being replaced with a new 10 mile LED light at the top of a new structure beside the former radar station.
The switchover marks the end of more than 150 years of maritime history, the David & Thomas Stevenson designed and constructed Bressay lighthouse having become operational in 1858.
Electrified in 1967 and automated in 1989, the former keepers’ cottages are already owned by Shetland Amenity Trust which runs them as holiday accommodation.
Ownership of the B-listed 16 metre lighthouse tower will be transferred to the trust in the near future.
The handover comes in the wake of the NLB’s 2005 review of aids to navigation.
“It was considered that as the Bressay light was within Lerwick harbour limits it qualified for transfer to the authority under the terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995,” Captain Phil Day, the lighthouse board’s director of marine operations said.
Rather than the port authority taking over the existing Stevenson structure it opted to erect a new structure, which will exhibit a 10 mile light showing the same character of flashing every 20 seconds.
Harbourmaster Calum Grains said: “With the continued development of new technology, this LED light is a suitable and efficient solution which will maintain a harbour light at Kirkabister.”
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