Channel Lightvessel
 Channel lightvessel 23 at Canning Dock | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Operator | Trinity House |
| In service | 25 November 2006 |
| Out of service | August 2021 |
| Status | Withdrawn as of August 2021 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Lightvessel |
| Channel | |
| Racon | O  |
| First lit | 1979 |
| Deactivated | August 2021 |
| Characteristic |  Fl W 15s |
| Channel lighted buoy | |
| Markings | Vertical stripe (red, white) |
| Operator | Trinity House |
| Racon | O |
| First lit | August 2021 |
| Light source | LED lamp |
| Range | 9 nmi (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 10s |
Channel Lightvessel was the name of a lightvessel station located in the English Channel between 1979 and August 2021, when it was replaced with a lighted buoy. It is also one of the 22 coastal weather stations whose conditions are reported in the BBC (Met Office) Shipping Forecast – the weather station is still announced as Channel Lightvessel Automatic despite being replaced by the buoy as of 2026[update].[1] The vessel's position was approximately 56 km (35 mi) north-northwest of Guernsey.
The lightvessel marked the western end of the English Channel Traffic Separation Zone.[2]
Signals
[edit]The light, on a 12 m (39 ft) tower, had a range of about 15 miles, and flashed for .3 seconds every 15 seconds. The fog signal gave a single 2 second blast every 20 seconds. The agile radio beacon transmitted the letter "O" in morse code on X band and S band frequencies for nine seconds every thirty seconds.[3]
History
[edit]The Channel lightvessel was established in 1979 as part of the Off Casquets Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), introduced following the 1978 grounding of the Amoco Cadiz.[4] The lightvessel was intended to give clear definition to the TSS, as such schemes were at the time a new feature, rather than marking a physical hazard to navigation.[4]
In May 2021 it was announced that the vessel would be replaced by a Type 1 buoy in August 2021.[5] In August 2021 Trinity House stated that the replacement had been completed,[6] with the Channel Lighted Buoy being deployed by THV Galatea.[7][8] The light vessel was towed away by THV Patricia.
Channel Light Buoy
[edit]The light on the buoy flashes every 10 seconds. The agile radio beacon transmits the letter "O" in morse code on X band and S band frequencies for twenty seconds every sixty seconds.[9] The light is an LED with a range of 9 nautical miles.[5]
References
[edit]- ↑ "15 September 2025". Shipping Forecast. BBC Sounds.[dead link]
- ↑ "Channel Lightvessel". Trinity House. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
- ↑ "Region D | Notice to mariners no.66/06". Notice to mariners. Trinity House. 30 October 2006. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011.
- 1 2 "Channel Lightvessel replaced by Safe Water Mark Type 1 buoy". Flash Journal (35). Trinity House: 18.
- 1 2 "Trinity House to replace Channel Lightvessel with Type 1 buoy" (Press release). Trinity House. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "Lighthouse vessel marking shipping English Channel lanes replaced with buoy". BBC News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "Replacing the Channel Lightvessel with a Type 1 buoy". Trinity House. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ Channel Buoy deployment from THV Galatea. YouTube. Trinity House. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "12/2021 Channel Light Vessel Channel Lighted Buoy | Trinity House Notice to Mariners, 16/07/2021". Trinity House.