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Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse

Fl (2) White 30s🇿🇦Swartland Local Municipality, ZAOperational

Location & Light Range

About Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse

This white, cylindrical concrete tower stands 21 meters tall and serves as the rear range light for the Cape Town Entrance to Duncan Dock. It features a small lantern and gallery, with the lantern itself painted red. The structure's focal plane reaches 104 meters above sea level, providing a geographic range of 25.3 nautical miles. The light emits two white flashes every 30 seconds, guiding vessels toward the dock. Visitors can access the site, although climbing the tower is not permitted.

Why it matters: This light is essential for aligning vessels with its paired front light, ensuring safe passage for commercial ships into Duncan Dock, a significant component of Cape Town's port infrastructure.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl (2) White 30s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Flash Count
2 flashes
Interval
30s
Raw Code
Fl(2) W 30s
Focal Height
104m
Light Range
26NM (48.2 km)
Geographic Range
25.3NM

Location

City
Swartland Local Municipality
Country
🇿🇦South Africa
Region
Western Cape
Sea Region
Marks the entrance to Duncan Dock in Cape Town, South Africa.
Latitude
-33.4321°
Longitude
18.0889°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Langebaan(19.8 km)
Admiralty No.
D5929.1
NGA No.
113-26049.1
ARLHS No.
SAF-017

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
21m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
white
Material
concrete

Structure: round cylindrical concrete tower with a small lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How far offshore can Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse be seen?+
With a focal height of 104 meters and a nominal range of 26 nautical miles (approximately 48.2 km), Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear is visible from well offshore under standard atmospheric conditions. Actual visibility depends on observer height, weather, and sea state. Lights of this range are typically used as landfall lights by vessels approaching from the open sea.
How do mariners identify Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse at night?+
Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear displays the characteristic Fl (2) White 30s — 2 white flashes every 30 seconds. 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 white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Bottelary at 17.9 NM to the N. Other ports served include LANGEBAAN (19.9 NM N), Saldanha Bay (25.4 NM NNW), De Waterkant (32.5 NM SSE), Waterfront (33.4 NM SSE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear 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 Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse?+
Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse is located within the Cape of Good Hope route — the historic shipping route around the southern tip of Africa. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Cape Town Entrance (Duncan Dock) Range Rear 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.