Lightship Elbe 1 Lighthouse
Location & Light Range
About Lightship Elbe 1 Lighthouse
Also known as: Lightship Elbe 1 (Bürgermeister O'swald II)
This steel lightship, built in 1948, served as a navigational aid off the mouth of the Elbe River. Its construction material is steel, and it features a light tower and lantern amidships, standing 49 meters tall. Throughout its service life, the vessel sustained damage from multiple collisions with other ships, requiring repairs and a return to its station. Decommissioned in 1988, the lightship now operates as a museum vessel. It is typically moored in Cuxhaven, Germany, near Alte Liebe in the summer and at Neuen Fischereihafen in the winter. The vessel remains operational and occasionally undertakes voyages.
Why it matters: The lightship was essential for guiding vessels through the busy waters at the mouth of the Elbe River. As a museum ship, it offers a tangible connection to Germany's maritime history and is a significant cultural attraction.
Tower & Structure
- Tower Height
- 49m
- Material
- steel
Structure: steel lightship with light tower and lantern amidships
Location
- City
- Cuxhaven
- Country
- 🇩🇪Germany
- Region
- Lower Saxony
- Sea Region
- Originally stationed off the mouth of the Elbe River, now moored in Cuxhaven, Germany, typically at Havenkaje near Alte Liebe in summer and Neuen Fischereihafen in winter.
- Latitude
- 53.8717°
- Longitude
- 8.7116°
Nearby Vessels
Construction & History
- Year Built
- 1948
Significant events: Decommissioned 1988, damaged many times by collisions with other vessels, repaired and returned to service, undertaken a number of voyages as museum vessel
References & Identifiers
- Nearest Port
- Cuxhaven(0.4 km)
- ARLHS No.
- FED-014
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