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Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones Lighthouse

Red🇬🇧Gravesham, GBOperational

Location & Light Range

About Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones Lighthouse

Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones, constructed in 1963, is a steel vessel painted red. Its working life began at the East Goodwin station, marking a shipping lane in the North Sea off the Kent coast. In 2003, it was moved to the Seven Stones Reef, northeast of the Isles of Scilly. The light was displayed from a cylindrical mast amidships. Decommissioned in 2008, the vessel was sold in 2009 and subsequently towed to Gillingham Pier. It underwent renovation to serve as a floating cultural facility.

Why it matters: This lightship marked a busy shipping lane in the North Sea and later the hazardous Seven Stones Reef. Its current role as a floating cultural facility preserves maritime history while engaging the local community.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Red
Light Color
Red

Construction & History

Year Built
1963

Significant events: Decommissioned 2008, transferred in 2003 to Seven Stones Reef, retired from service in 2008, sold in 2009, towed to Gillingham Pier, renovated as a floating cultural facility

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Cliffe(0.9 km)
ARLHS No.
ENG-124

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
40.5m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
red
Material
steel

Structure: steel lightship; the light was displayed from a large lantern on a cylindrical mast amidships

Location

City
Gravesham
Country
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Region
England
Sea Region
East Goodwin station in the North Sea off the coast of Kent; Seven Stones Reef, northeast of the Isles of Scilly and northwest of Land's End; Gillingham Pier on the Medway; Thames waterfront just below the Gravesend Town Pier
Latitude
51.4500°
Longitude
0.4422°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports and harbors does Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Cliffe at 0.9 NM to the NNE. Other ports served include Gravesend (2.1 NM W), Tilbury (3.7 NM W), Shell Haven (3.8 NM NNE), Northfleet (3.9 NM W). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones 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 Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones Lighthouse?+
Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones Lighthouse is located within the English Channel / North Sea corridor — one of the world's busiest maritime corridors connecting the Atlantic to Northern European ports. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Trinity House Lightship 21 Seven Stones 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.