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Banco San José Lighthouse

Fl Green 5s🇨🇱Calbuco, CLOperational

Location & Light Range

About Banco San José Lighthouse

Banco San José is a red, triangular skeletal metal tower standing 15 meters tall, featuring a green horizontal band. Its focal height is 13 meters, and it emits a green flash every 5 seconds, visible for 11.3 nautical miles. The lighthouse is located on a dangerous reef in the entrance to the Seno de Reloncaví, the sound leading to Puerto Montt. This site, reachable only by boat, is 6.9 kilometers from Calbuco, the nearest port. Visitors can access the site, but the tower itself is closed.

Why it matters: This lighthouse is indispensable for maritime traffic entering and exiting Puerto Montt, a significant port in southern Chile, by clearly delineating the hazardous reef known as Banco San José.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl Green 5s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
Green
Interval
5s
Raw Code
Fl G 5s
Focal Height
13m
Geographic Range
11.3NM

Location

City
Calbuco
Country
🇨🇱Chile
Region
Los Lagos Region
Sea Region
dangerous reef in the center of the entrance to the Seno de Reloncaví, the sound leading to Puerto Montt
Latitude
-41.7327°
Longitude
-73.0602°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Calbuco(6.9 km)
Admiralty No.
G1693
NGA No.
1664
ARLHS No.
CHI-049

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
15m
Tower Shape
skeletal
Tower Color
red with a green horizontal band
Material
metal

Structure: triangular skeletal tower, painted red with a green horizontal band

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Banco San José Lighthouse at night?+
Banco San José displays the characteristic Fl Green 5s. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The green color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Banco San José Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Banco San José Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Calbuco at 6.1 NM to the WSW. Other ports served include Puerto Montt (14.5 NM NNE), Pargua (18 NM W), Chacao (21.2 NM WSW), Hualaihué (24 NM SE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Banco San José Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Banco San José Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
How can I track vessels near Banco San José Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Banco San José Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.