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Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse

Fl white 3.3s🇯🇵Karatsu, JPOperational

Location & Light Range

About Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse

The Karatsu Breakwater East Head lighthouse was a concrete post situated atop a square, one-story concrete equipment building. The entire structure was painted red and stood 10 meters tall. Its focal height was also 10 meters, and it emitted a white flashing light. The lighthouse marked the southeast end of Karatsu's detached main breakwater. It was inactive since 2020 and has since been removed.

Why it matters: This lighthouse served to clearly mark the end of the detached main breakwater, guiding vessels entering or leaving Karatsu port and helping them avoid the structure.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl white 3.3s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
white
Interval
3.3s
Raw Code
Fl.W
Focal Height
10m
Geographic Range
6NM

Construction & History

Significant events: Inactive since 2020, removed

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
10m
Tower Shape
square
Tower Color
red
Material
concrete

Structure: concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment building

Location

City
Karatsu
Country
🇯🇵Japan
Region
Saga Prefecture
Sea Region
Southeast end of the detached main breakwater of Karatsu
Latitude
33.4849°
Longitude
129.9606°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Tobo(0.4 km)
Admiralty No.
M5269.22
NGA No.
12252
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse at night?+
Karatsu Breakwater East Head displays the characteristic Fl white 3.3s. 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 Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Karatsu at 0.3 NM to the ESE. Other ports served include Tobo (1.4 NM W), Yobuko (4.8 NM NW), Kafuri (10.7 NM ENE), Fukushima, Nagasaki (11.4 NM SW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Karatsu Breakwater East Head 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 Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse?+
Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse is located within the Japan / Korea shipping lane — a busy shipping corridor linking the major ports of Japan and South Korea. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Karatsu Breakwater East Head Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Karatsu Breakwater East Head 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.