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Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull Lighthouse

Fl Green 2.5s🇬🇧Thurrock, GBOperational

Location & Light Range

About Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull Lighthouse

Also known as: Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull (Brake)

Constructed in 1860, this wooden lightship, Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull, initially served on the Nab and Would stations before its primary role as the Brake lightship. It sustained damage from a collision with the liner City of York in 1929, necessitating its recovery and repair, and experienced another collision in 1940. After being decommissioned in 1946, it was sold to the Thurrock Yacht Club in Grays and used as a club ship. The vessel is now beached on the north bank of the Thames near Grays. Its mast and lantern were salvaged and restored in 2012.

Why it matters: This vessel is a rare surviving example of a wooden lightship with a significant history of collisions and repairs, underscoring the risks associated with its former role.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl Green 2.5s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
Green
Interval
2.5s
Raw Code
Fl G 2.5s
Focal Height
11m
Geographic Range
10.7NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1860

Significant events: Decommissioned 1946, sank in 1929 after a collision with the liner City of York, raised and repaired, suffered another collision in 1940, sold as the club ship of the Thurrock Yacht Club at Grays, clubhouse was moved onshore, vandalized repeatedly, mast and lantern salvaged and restored in 2012

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Tilbury(0.7 km)
ARLHS No.
ENG-289

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
27.5m
Tower Color
red with a white band below the lantern
Material
wood

Structure: wood lightship; the light was shown from a lantern on a mast amidships

Location

City
Thurrock
Country
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Region
England
Sea Region
north bank of the Thames near the intersection of Argent Street and Thames Road in Grays, served on the Nab and Would stations, later as the Brake
Latitude
51.4717°
Longitude
0.3241°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull Lighthouse at night?+
Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull displays the characteristic Fl Green 2.5s. 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 green color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Grays at 0.3 NM to the WNW. Other ports served include Tilbury (1 NM SE), Northfleet (1.5 NM SSE), Purfleet (2.6 NM W), Dartford (2.8 NM WSW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull 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 38 Gull Lighthouse?+
Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull 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 38 Gull Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Trinity House Lightship 38 Gull 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.