Get the MarineRadar appSatellite AISSatellite live trackingTrack any shipLive alerts112,000+ ships trackedDownload free

Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse

Fl Green 4s🇨🇦Juan de Fuca Electoral Area, CAOperational

Location & Light Range

About Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse

The Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse, built in 1989, stands 12 meters tall with a white fiberglass tower that has a green band at the top. This structure rests on a conical concrete pier and warns mariners with a green flashing light every 4 seconds. The lighthouse is situated on Brotchie Ledge, a known hazard about 1200 meters south of Victoria's harbor entrance. The site is accessible by boat, but the tower is closed to the public. The station's history includes buoys placed in 1843 and a concrete beacon built in 1898 after an earlier caisson attempt failed.

Why it matters: This lighthouse is important for vessels approaching Victoria harbor, as it marks the hazardous Brotchie Ledge, an obstruction that has historically caused shipwrecks.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl Green 4s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
Green
Interval
4s
Raw Code
Fl G 4s
Focal Height
12m
Geographic Range
11NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1989

Significant events: Buoys placed 1843; Captain William Brotchie wrecked ship Albion 1849; Caisson lighthouse effort failed 1897; Concrete beacon built and station established 1898; Current fiberglass tower established and light activated 1989

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
12m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
white with a green band at the top
Material
concrete, fiberglass

Structure: round fiberglass tower mounted on a conical concrete pier

Location

City
Juan de Fuca Electoral Area
Country
🇨🇦Canada
Region
British Columbia
Sea Region
Brotchie Ledge, a dangerous obstruction in the approach to Victoria, located about 1200 m south of the entrance to Victoria harbor.
Latitude
48.4064°
Longitude
-123.3880°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Victoria(0.7 km)
Admiralty No.
G5310
NGA No.
13704
USCG No.
6-16260
Live tracking · 50,000+ mariners

Find Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse on the live nautical map

Plan voyages near Canada, see nearby vessels in real time, and explore 14,900+ navigation aids in the app.

Nautical mapNearby vesselsVoyage planning
Get the App

Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse at night?+
Brotchie Ledge displays the characteristic Fl Green 4s. 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 Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Victoria at 1.1 NM to the N. Other ports served include Esquimalt (2.4 NM NW), Bamberton (10 NM NNW), Brentwood Bay (10.7 NM NNW), Sooke (11.1 NM W). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Brotchie Ledge 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.
What shipping routes pass near Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse?+
Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse is located within the US West Coast shipping lane — a major trans-Pacific trade route serving West Coast ports of the United States. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Brotchie Ledge Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Brotchie Ledge 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.