Cross Ledge Lighthouse

🇺🇸Pennsville Township, USOperational

Location & Light Range

About Cross Ledge Lighthouse

Established in 1875, Cross Ledge Lighthouse is a screw-pile structure located in Delaware Bay, off Pennsville Township, New Jersey. It was built to replace a previous lighthouse that had been lost to ice. The lighthouse marked a dangerous shoal within the main shipping channel leading to Philadelphia. This waterway features shifting sands and a wide expanse of water, posing navigational challenges. The structure has since been automated and decommissioned, though it remains visible from the water.

Why it matters: The lighthouse marked the Cross Ledge Shoal, a hazard in the Delaware Bay's primary shipping channel, ensuring safe passage to and from the port of Philadelphia.

Construction & History

Year Built
1875

Visiting

Open to public
No

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Location

City
Pennsville Township
Country
🇺🇸United States
Region
New Jersey
Latitude
39.6171°
Longitude
-75.5339°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Delaware City(3.2 km)
ARLHS No.
USA-931
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports and harbors does Cross Ledge Lighthouse guide vessels into?

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Cross Ledge Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is SALEM at 3.5 NM to the SE. Other ports served include Delaware City (3.6 NM SW), Wilmington (6.5 NM N), Penns Grove (6.7 NM NNE), SUMMIT NORTH (8.9 NM WSW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.

Is Cross Ledge Lighthouse still active and maintained?

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Yes, Cross 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 Cross Ledge Lighthouse?

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Cross Ledge Lighthouse is located within the US East Coast shipping lane — a major shipping corridor serving ports along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.

How can I track vessels near Cross Ledge Lighthouse?

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You can track vessels near Cross 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.

What is the Cross Ledge lighthouse used for?

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It is a fixed navigational aid on the coast at Pennsville Township, United States. Mariners identify it by its light characteristic — the pattern, colour and timing of its flashes — which is unique among the lights in its area, so a bearing on it fixes a vessel’s position without instruments.