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

Palmer Island Lighthouse

Fl W 4s🇺🇸Southeastern Massachusetts, USInactive

Location & Light Range

About Palmer Island Lighthouse

Built in 1849 from stone rubble, the Palmer Island Light Station stands 7 meters tall with its focal height at 13 meters. This white light guided vessels in New Bedford Harbor. The station was discontinued in the early 1960s following the construction of the harbor's hurricane barrier. Its position north of the barrier rendered it obsolete, with lights now situated on either side of the barrier opening. Between 1888 and 1891, it functioned as a range light in conjunction with Fairhaven Bridge Light, aiding navigation past the Butler Flats shoal.

Why it matters: Palmer Island Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 26, 1980.

Background
Palmer Island Light Station is a historic lighthouse in New Bedford Harbor in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. The lighthouse was built in 1849 out of stone rubble. It was discontinued when the harbor's hurricane barrier was built in the early 1960s, as its location immediately north of the barrier was no longer an outlying danger and there are lights on either side of the barrier opening. From 1888 until 1891 it served, with Fairhaven Bridge Light, as a range light to guide vessels past Butler Flats, a rocky shoal on the west side of the entrance channel. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Palmer Island Light Station on March 26, 1980.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl W 4s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Flash Count
1 flash
Interval
4s
Focal Height
13m

Construction & History

Year Built
1849
Heritage Status
National Register of Historic Places listed place

References & Identifiers

Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q7128244 →
OpenStreetMap
View on OSM →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
7m

Location

City
Southeastern Massachusetts
Country
🇺🇸US
Latitude
41.6270°
Longitude
-70.9091°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
Live tracking · 50,000+ mariners

Find Palmer Island Lighthouse on the live nautical map

Plan voyages near US, 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 Palmer Island Lighthouse at night?+
Palmer Island displays the characteristic Fl W 4s — 1 white flash every 4 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.
Which ports and harbors does Palmer Island Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Palmer Island Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is New Bedford at 0.6 NM to the NW. Other ports served include FAIRHAVEN (0.8 NM NNE), North Dartmouth (2.6 NM W), South Dartmouth (2.9 NM SSW), MATTAPOISETT (4.7 NM ENE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Palmer Island Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Palmer Island Lighthouse is currently listed as inactive. It may have been decommissioned, replaced by a different navigation aid, or temporarily taken out of service. Mariners should check the latest Notices to Mariners for current status.
What shipping routes pass near Palmer Island Lighthouse?+
Palmer Island 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 Palmer Island Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Palmer Island 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.