MINICOY LIGHT HOUSE

 

 

HISTORY

 

          Lakshadweep    islands have  played an important  role  in  our  countries  maritine  history. The arrival of Portuguese in the Indian sea in 15 th century added to the importance of  the  islands   which provided a vantage point for many sea battles. In the 18 th century there were four ship wrecks on the coral reefs of Minicoy island.

          Minicoy island assumed a great importance by virtue of its strategic location after opening  Suez  canal 1869 which shortened the  sea  distance   between Europe and Far East by    4000  miles.  The British government in consultation with Lord Rippon, the then Governer General  took  a  decision  in 1882 to construct  a  Light House  in this Island.  As  this  Island  was  full of  coconut  trees  it   was envisaged  to construct 49 metre high Light house tower to provide alround visibility.  The  foundation  stone was laid  in  1883 and ceremony of laying was performed by Miss Howah Manika the youngest daughter of  Amin of Minicoy Mr. Bephanu.

 

          Mason and  other skilled laborers were initially brought from  Gallie (Sri Lanka )  who  were early employed for building Light houses at Bases(Ceylon).  But local Islanders  proved   themselves equally competent  in very short time.       

 

           The tower was constructed  in  brick   masonry   and  the black bricks used  was as  hard stone , which was specially brought from "Birmingham of England and special adhesive compound from Holland".  The construction  of  Light house  was  completed  in  March 1884  and   lighting  equipment consisted of a kerosene wick lamp  enclosed by  a lantern was   installed  in December 1884  by a skilled mechanic from London . The light house  was formally  commissioned on 2nd  February   1885 in the  presence of  Amin of  Minicoy and  Sir James Douglas who had specially come from  England . In  1928  the wick  lamp  was  replaced   by Petroleum   Vapour    burner increasing luminous  intensity  considerably.

 

            Though the location  of  Light house  was decided upon  in 1882,  the building construction started  in  1883  and  finished   in 1885. The light  was  visible  upto  19 miles. Minicoy Lighthouse along with bases of Lighthouse(Ceylon) was under direct control of U.K .Board of  Trade  London and In charge of Superintendent of Imperial Lighthouses Colombo,  who visited Minicoy  every six months  to  the board of  trade tender from  Ceylon to relieve  Lightkeepers  and replenish  their oil and stores.  Minicoy Islanders were given free passages to Ceylon under certain restriction.

 

            Untill 1934 then Light house was under the direct control of  board  of  Trade London and there after it was completely transferred along with Light houses of  Ceylon and Burma to a Board appointed by board of trade London.

 

            Although   India    attained   her  Independence  on  15 th   August  1947  the  British Government did not transfer the administration of Light house till April 1956. The De-jure transfer of  administration  to the  Government of India has to wait further till 19 th September 1963.  As  both houses of British parliament  has to pass a requisite  legislation  which  require the assent of Queen of  England.

 

            It is reported that when the Union jack was lowered and the  INDIAN  NATIONAL TRI COLOUR was hoisted on the Light house on 2 nd April 1956 Mr. Rees the then Superintendent of  Imperial Light houses who had specially come for the formal transfer of  Light houses to the Government of India  could not utter a word and ran to his boat and left the island.

       

            After the   Light  house  was taken   over  by   Government  of India plans  were  drawn to improve equipment. Department of Light houses and Light Ships under the Ministry of shipping and Transport modernized the Light house Equipment by Installing 85 mm  vapour burner with revolving lens apparatus of first order large (920 mm focal length )   was  installed in 1968.  The   light had an Effective beam intensity of  1.2 Million candelas with a range of  26 N miles. A  powerful medium

frequency marine RADIO BEACON with effective range of 400 Km  was  also  installed in  1982  to provide increased navigational Guidance. A  Radar transponder RACON  was also commissioned in 1985 as an additional guidance to the Mariner(with code "G").

 

           As the technology  developed  the  old  Petroleum  vapor  burner  was  replaced by METAL HALLIDE    ELECTRIC  LAMP  controlled  by  electronic  circuit. The Light house range was then leaped to 50 miles from 26 miles of kerosene lamp.The new generation of  Maritine system of  Satellite communication  Differential Global Positioning System(Latest in India)   installed in 1998.  The  Light  house renders a vital navigation guidence to  ships in  international lanes from Aden to Colombo, Suezto Singapore and Far East. 

 

          The Goverment of India celebrated centenary year in 1985.  for this monumental and historical Beacon. A commerative postal stamp and first day cover was also released on this historic day.

 

         A pride of our nation the Minicoy Light house  was  standing  magnificiently  beyond  a  century, guiding courageous mariner irrespective of the nation they belong, the language they speak and colour their skin. With a magnimous look always heralding a path of  Light from Darkness "LEAD KINDLY LIGHT"  on the vedic hymn  "THAPOSOMA  JYOTHIR GAMAYA"

 

         The job of Light house  personnel,  dedicating their   life   to  the safe sea   faring  of  Mariners,  devoted to  the  International  maritime service is  unparallel,  they keep the navigational aid ever working round the clock all 365 days, the onerous duty to guide the  souls at sea to find a way through

trecherous and unpredictable oceans.

 

 

 

 


STATISTICS

 

LIGHT HOUSE
  1.  

Location

Lat  8 º 16 N  

Long  73 º  01  E
  1.  

Manufacturer

BBT  Paris
  1.  

Energy source

Main      -  Local mains

Standby -  DG Set
  1.  

Speed of  Revolution

4/3 RPM
  1.  

Charactor

FL (15) White (0.66 + 14.34)
  1.  

Focal distance

460 mm
  1.  

Size of Optic

920 mm
  1.  

No. of  Panels

3 Nos
  1.  

Illuminent

Main  -  400 W, 230 V Metal Hallide

Emergency -  100 W, 12V  Halogen  lamp
  1.  

Effective Beam intensity

3,32,15,773 Candellas
  1.  

Divergence

5 º 18 Horizontal ,  4º  58  Vertical
  1.  

Range of visibility

40 N Miles
  1.  

Height of  the Tower

49.5 M
  1.  

Elevation M. S. L

47  M
  1.  

Date of Commissioning

First Light house  in 02nd Feb. 1885

 

   

DIFFERENTIAL GLOBAL POSITIONING  SYSTEM (DGPS)
  1.  

Transmitter make

SAC-USA (Southern Avionics Co)
  1.  

Equipment     

SLF 30091

DGPS Equipment

LEICA , USA
  1.  

Output Frequency             

320 Khz
  1.  

Power output

500 W
  1.  

Range

400 Km
  1.  

Date of Installation

June 1998

 

Contact:

 

Assistant Engineer,

Light House,

Minicoy, Lakshadweep –682559

Phone :04892-222264