Logbook

Logbook 2006

This "Logbook" will show you the news of this WebPages in 2006.

All older news can be reached over the below mentioned blue button on this page.

If you have any suggestions for additional subjects, please get in touch!
Click the bottle to send me an e-mail:

December 29th, 2006
The winners of the Lighship Advent Calendar 2006

For this year the Lightship Advent Calendar remains closed. An unsuspected number of correct solutions were e-mailed to me during the last days. Thank you very much to all who played. Here are the winners and their prizes!

December 5th, 2006
New Bedford lightship for sale on eBay

The City of New Bedford took the unprecedented step to auction off the US Lightship New Bedford (LV114/WAL536) on eBay, stripped of all items of historical value, for three days from December 5th to December 8th, 2006. Starting bid is 99,99 Dollar. A sorry tale indeed. I wish someone had the where-to-fore to secure this ship and see her made whole again.

The lightship was sold for 1,775 US Dollar on December 8th, 2006. If anyone has news, I would be grateful for an e-mail.

November 25th, 2006
Lightship Advent Calendar

From next Friday (01.12.2006), you will find a virtual Lightship Advent Calendar on my web pages. 24 lightship questions are waiting to be answered up to the 24.12.2006. Test your knowledge about lightships and have fun - at the end nice prizes can be won of course. I look forward to many players and many correct solutions : -)

November 18th, 2006
Lightship modell wanted!

During the last weeks I had several inquiries of privat persons, who are interested in buying a lightship modell. If anyone of you is interested in selling a handmade lightship modell, please contact me.

November 16th, 2006
UFS 2 capsized at position ELBE

In the hurricane night of the 4th of December 1999, the un-manned lightship "UFS 2" sank aproximately 13 nautical miles south east of Helgoland. Ten days later the specially procured floating crane "Thor" righted the lightship in the first attempt but due to the extensive damage (the light tower hat been touching ground for ten days, the electrics and measuring gear were useless) a repair was deemed unjustifiable. Click here to read more about the accident . Unfortunately in 2005 the lightship was scrapped.

October 1st, 2006
Farewell party for the lightship VAESTRA BANKEN

After several month of work the former Swedish lightship VAESTRA BANKEN will leave Rostock (Germany) in a few weeks to become the landmark and heart of the marina "Le Phare Bleu" on the south coast of Grenada in the Caribbean. Yesterday we were invited to Rostock for the farewell party and had a really wonderful evening. Click here to read the full story.

September 26th, 2006
Lightship New Bedford on the auction block

For the last 30 plus years the US lightship No. 114 "New Bedford" has been languishing at the Commonwealth Electric Pier in New Bedford harbor and has suffred from as many years of neglect. It is owned by the City of New Bedford. The last 3 mayors of the city have pledged to "save" the lightship with promises to convert it into a first class public attraction, but all promises have gone unfullfilled. At May 31st, 2006 the vessel rolled on its side due to a leak in the hull. In July 2006 vandals boarded the ship and removed 23 brass portholes. Now, the vessel has been righted and the City of New Bedford is currently considering various options - to sell it for scrap is one of them. Plans to sell the lightship on an auction at September 26th, 2006 failed. If anyone has news, I would be grateful for an e-mail.

August 26th, 2006
Good news from Denmark

The former Danish lightship No. XXI SKAGENS REV, which is berthed in Ebeltoft (Denmark) today, is open to the public from June to August as a café. It is planned, that in 2007 also overnight accomodation will be available.

August 25th, 2006
Greenwich lightvessel

One of the more unknown lightships is the English lightvessel no. 5, which is still in the Trinity House fleet. It is used as a solar powered automatic light vessel at the Greenwich station. The original optic from the lantern is in the Ramsgate Maritime Museum today.

August 16th, 2006
Video film about the Swedish lightship No. 2

If you are interested in Swedish lightships, the video film "Fyrskeppet N:o 2" about the Swedish lightship No. 2 B, might be interesting for you. To read more about the film, please click here.

August 1st, 2006
Model of the US lightship OVERFALLS

All who are interested in lightship models, should have a look at the model of the US lightship OVERFALLS, which was built by John Milroy.

July 30th, 2006
Atmospheric images of lightships

The artist Tony Pennell combines paint and photography to produce atmospheric lightship images. Please click here to view his images.

July 23rd, 2006
Lightship restaurant for sale

If it was your childhood dream to run a maritime restaurant - there is now a very good chance to make this dream come true. The former English lightvessel No. 11, which is already rebuilt to a restaurant, is now for sale for a very attractive price.

July 22nd, 2006
The new name of LV 8 will be JENNI BAYNTON

After more than one year of hard work of the radio Waddenzee team, today the former English lightvessel no. 8 was towed to its new berth at the Zuiderpier in Harlingen (Netherlands). It looks nearly original again, is painted in a bright red color and also the light is shining again - very fine work! The new name of the lightship will be JENNI BAYNTON.

June 28th, 2006
VÄSTRA BANKEN, part 2

During the last weeks 20 tons of material had been removed from the inside of the Swedish lightship VÄSTRA BANKEN and the conservation phase had begun. Today the Västra Banken was towed to the "Volkswerft" in Stralsund (Germany), where the rump will be cleaned and repaired, if necessary. Click here to see some photos.

May 2nd, 2006
Trinity House DVD "End of an Era"

Did you know, that Trinity House made a film about two of the last operational manned lightvessels in 1987 - No. 23 at the Channel Station and No. 8 at Harwich. For more information about the film please click here.

May 1st, 2006
Now available: DVD "ELBE 1 on Official Mission 650 Miles westward bound"

A very special event last season was the trip of the German lightship ELBE 1 taking part in the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Trafalgar in Penzance (GB). For all, who could not be on board during this trip, the film team Dieter Meyer and Dieter Allers accompanied the trip. Their new DVD "ELBE 1 on Official Mission 650 Miles westward bound" is now also available in English language. For more information about the film please click here.

April 18th, 2006
The probably longest journey of a lightship

Today is the day! The Swedish lightship no. 23 VÄSTRA BANKEN will be taken on the first stage of the probably longest journey it ever made. The Danish tug SONTINJA towed the lightship to Rostock in Germany, where it will be overhauled during the next months, before it will be brought to - you won´t believe it - Grenada (West Indies), where it will start its second life. To be continued...

April 17th,
2006

Good news!

The Finnish lightship RELANDERSGRUND is doing ok now. The well known Finnish shipyard Aker Yards supplies her for free with welding material and two welders for two weeks onboard to make her float again. What a generous offer - thank you very much Aker Yards!

March 6th, 2006
Help needed!

Today I received the following request. Maybe anyone of you has an idea how to help:

Dear receiver!
Rellu (the Finnish lightvessel Relandersgrund) is in great danger. She is in the dock, and big damages have come to light there. The owner, Ms Susanna Seppä cannot finance all by herself. We, the Finnish Lighthouse Society, Suomen Majakkaseura (www.majakkaseura.fi), do our best to help her, but Susanna needs more help. Can You find some donator to help her for example by 10,000 Euros or even 5,000 Euros? She has only 15 days to repair the ship before it must be moved from the dock, and the ship will sink in present condition!
Yours
Pekka Väisänen
President Finnish Lighthouse Society
tel. +358443200309

February 16th, 2006
The German designer Gerald Brandt

Do you know the German designer Gerald Brandt? He is my recommendation to all, who like to see lightships "at work" (which means "at night"). When I look at his illustrations, I feel as if I am standing at the edge of the ocean in a stormy full moon night, watching a lightship doing its work. Its a little bit mystic - I love it :-) Click here to learn more about Gerald Brandt.

February 12th, 2006
Exhibition "North Sea Lights"
in Bremerhaven/Germany

There is a new chance for you to see the lightship and lighthouse exhibition "North Sea Lights": The exhibition, which tells everything about lightships and lighthouses of the North Sea will be shown in Bremerhaven in Germany from February 15th, until April 23rd, 2006. Afterwards it will be shown in Hull, Great Britain.

February 11th, 2006
Lightships for sale

Is anyone looking for a new home or a floating restaurant in Germany, England or the United States? Why not choosing a lightship? There are three new lightships for sale.

January 21st, 2006 2006 on tour with the German lightship FEHMARNBELT

In the summer, from May until September, the lightship leaves her berth in Luebeck (Germany) and visits the most different events along the Baltic coast. If you are interested in doing a tour with the lightship, please send an e-mail. The summer timetable can be found here (sorry, in German language only).

January 17th, 2006 The lightship pages are 5 years old today and I want to thank all who in the last five years helped and supported me with information. Your contributions meant that the lighship pages could become what they are today! I have met many interesting people and many email acquaintances developed into real friendships.

In today's fast living times I think 5 years is something to be proud of. So I thought we'd have a little birthday competition where everyone can take part. Send me an e-mail with a little rime for the 5th birthday which has to contain the following 5 phrases "5 years, lightship pages, light vessels, congratulations and Iris" I will put all entries on a special page and the best 5 rimes will be rewarded with a tea/coffee mug of the German lightship ELBE 1 :-)

January 1st, 2006 In my opinion the former Swedish lightship no. 5 Utgrunden seems to be the oldest preserved lightship in the world. It is privately owned today, renamed to Svenska Björn again and 140 years old. Do you know any other preserved lightships of that age?

January 1st, 2006 A very Happy New Year 2006 to all visitors and friends of my lightship webpages!

Earlier Logbooks:

December 29th, 2006	The winners of the Lighship Advent Calendar 2006 For this year the Lightship Advent Calendar remains closed. An unsuspected number of correct solutions were e-mailed to me during the last days. Thank you very much to all who played. Here are the winners and their prizes!
December 5th, 2006	New Bedford lightship for sale on eBay The City of New Bedford took the unprecedented step to auction off the US Lightship New Bedford (LV114/WAL536) on eBay, stripped of all items of historical value, for three days from December 5th to December 8th, 2006. Starting bid is 99,99 Dollar. A sorry tale indeed. I wish someone had the where-to-fore to secure this ship and see her made whole again. The lightship was sold for 1,775 US Dollar on December 8th, 2006. If anyone has news, I would be grateful for an e-mail.
November 25th, 2006	Lightship Advent Calendar From next Friday (01.12.2006), you will find a virtual Lightship Advent Calendar on my web pages. 24 lightship questions are waiting to be answered up to the 24.12.2006. Test your knowledge about lightships and have fun - at the end nice prizes can be won of course. I look forward to many players and many correct solutions : -)
November 18th, 2006	Lightship modell wanted! During the last weeks I had several inquiries of privat persons, who are interested in buying a lightship modell. If anyone of you is interested in selling a handmade lightship modell, please contact me.
November 16th, 2006	UFS 2 capsized at position ELBE In the hurricane night of the 4th of December 1999, the un-manned lightship "UFS 2" sank aproximately 13 nautical miles south east of Helgoland. Ten days later the specially procured floating crane "Thor" righted the lightship in the first attempt but due to the extensive damage (the light tower hat been touching ground for ten days, the electrics and measuring gear were useless) a repair was deemed unjustifiable. Click here to read more about the accident . Unfortunately in 2005 the lightship was scrapped.
October 1st, 2006	Farewell party for the lightship VAESTRA BANKEN After several month of work the former Swedish lightship VAESTRA BANKEN will leave Rostock (Germany) in a few weeks to become the landmark and heart of the marina "Le Phare Bleu" on the south coast of Grenada in the Caribbean. Yesterday we were invited to Rostock for the farewell party and had a really wonderful evening. Click here to read the full story.
September 26th, 2006	Lightship New Bedford on the auction block For the last 30 plus years the US lightship No. 114 "New Bedford" has been languishing at the Commonwealth Electric Pier in New Bedford harbor and has suffred from as many years of neglect. It is owned by the City of New Bedford. The last 3 mayors of the city have pledged to "save" the lightship with promises to convert it into a first class public attraction, but all promises have gone unfullfilled. At May 31st, 2006 the vessel rolled on its side due to a leak in the hull. In July 2006 vandals boarded the ship and removed 23 brass portholes. Now, the vessel has been righted and the City of New Bedford is currently considering various options - to sell it for scrap is one of them. Plans to sell the lightship on an auction at September 26th, 2006 failed. If anyone has news, I would be grateful for an e-mail.
August 26th, 2006	Good news from Denmark The former Danish lightship No. XXI SKAGENS REV, which is berthed in Ebeltoft (Denmark) today, is open to the public from June to August as a café. It is planned, that in 2007 also overnight accomodation will be available.
August 25th, 2006	Greenwich lightvessel One of the more unknown lightships is the English lightvessel no. 5, which is still in the Trinity House fleet. It is used as a solar powered automatic light vessel at the Greenwich station. The original optic from the lantern is in the Ramsgate Maritime Museum today.
August 16th, 2006	Video film about the Swedish lightship No. 2 If you are interested in Swedish lightships, the video film "Fyrskeppet N:o 2" about the Swedish lightship No. 2 B, might be interesting for you. To read more about the film, please click here.
August 1st, 2006	Model of the US lightship OVERFALLS All who are interested in lightship models, should have a look at the model of the US lightship OVERFALLS, which was built by John Milroy.
July 30th, 2006	Atmospheric images of lightships The artist Tony Pennell combines paint and photography to produce atmospheric lightship images. Please click here to view his images.
July 23rd, 2006	Lightship restaurant for sale If it was your childhood dream to run a maritime restaurant - there is now a very good chance to make this dream come true. The former English lightvessel No. 11, which is already rebuilt to a restaurant, is now for sale for a very attractive price.
July 22nd, 2006	The new name of LV 8 will be JENNI BAYNTON After more than one year of hard work of the radio Waddenzee team, today the former English lightvessel no. 8 was towed to its new berth at the Zuiderpier in Harlingen (Netherlands). It looks nearly original again, is painted in a bright red color and also the light is shining again - very fine work! The new name of the lightship will be JENNI BAYNTON.
June 28th, 2006	VÄSTRA BANKEN, part 2 During the last weeks 20 tons of material had been removed from the inside of the Swedish lightship VÄSTRA BANKEN and the conservation phase had begun. Today the Västra Banken was towed to the "Volkswerft" in Stralsund (Germany), where the rump will be cleaned and repaired, if necessary. Click here to see some photos.
May 2nd, 2006	Trinity House DVD "End of an Era" Did you know, that Trinity House made a film about two of the last operational manned lightvessels in 1987 - No. 23 at the Channel Station and No. 8 at Harwich. For more information about the film please click here.
May 1st, 2006	Now available: DVD "ELBE 1 on Official Mission 650 Miles westward bound" A very special event last season was the trip of the German lightship ELBE 1 taking part in the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Trafalgar in Penzance (GB). For all, who could not be on board during this trip, the film team Dieter Meyer and Dieter Allers accompanied the trip. Their new DVD "ELBE 1 on Official Mission 650 Miles westward bound" is now also available in English language. For more information about the film please click here.
April 18th, 2006	The probably longest journey of a lightship Today is the day! The Swedish lightship no. 23 VÄSTRA BANKEN will be taken on the first stage of the probably longest journey it ever made. The Danish tug SONTINJA towed the lightship to Rostock in Germany, where it will be overhauled during the next months, before it will be brought to - you won´t believe it - Grenada (West Indies), where it will start its second life. To be continued...
April 17th, 2006	Good news! The Finnish lightship RELANDERSGRUND is doing ok now. The well known Finnish shipyard Aker Yards supplies her for free with welding material and two welders for two weeks onboard to make her float again. What a generous offer - thank you very much Aker Yards!
March 6th, 2006	Help needed! Today I received the following request. Maybe anyone of you has an idea how to help: Dear receiver! Rellu (the Finnish lightvessel Relandersgrund) is in great danger. She is in the dock, and big damages have come to light there. The owner, Ms Susanna Seppä cannot finance all by herself. We, the Finnish Lighthouse Society, Suomen Majakkaseura (www.majakkaseura.fi), do our best to help her, but Susanna needs more help. Can You find some donator to help her for example by 10,000 Euros or even 5,000 Euros? She has only 15 days to repair the ship before it must be moved from the dock, and the ship will sink in present condition! Yours Pekka Väisänen President Finnish Lighthouse Society tel. +358443200309
February 16th, 2006	The German designer Gerald Brandt Do you know the German designer Gerald Brandt? He is my recommendation to all, who like to see lightships "at work" (which means "at night"). When I look at his illustrations, I feel as if I am standing at the edge of the ocean in a stormy full moon night, watching a lightship doing its work. Its a little bit mystic - I love it :-) Click here to learn more about Gerald Brandt.
February 12th, 2006	Exhibition "North Sea Lights" in Bremerhaven/Germany There is a new chance for you to see the lightship and lighthouse exhibition "North Sea Lights": The exhibition, which tells everything about lightships and lighthouses of the North Sea will be shown in Bremerhaven in Germany from February 15th, until April 23rd, 2006. Afterwards it will be shown in Hull, Great Britain.
February 11th, 2006	Lightships for sale Is anyone looking for a new home or a floating restaurant in Germany, England or the United States? Why not choosing a lightship? There are three new lightships for sale.
January 21st, 2006	2006 on tour with the German lightship FEHMARNBELT In the summer, from May until September, the lightship leaves her berth in Luebeck (Germany) and visits the most different events along the Baltic coast. If you are interested in doing a tour with the lightship, please send an e-mail. The summer timetable can be found here (sorry, in German language only).
January 17th, 2006	The lightship pages are 5 years old today and I want to thank all who in the last five years helped and supported me with information. Your contributions meant that the lighship pages could become what they are today! I have met many interesting people and many email acquaintances developed into real friendships. In today's fast living times I think 5 years is something to be proud of. So I thought we'd have a little birthday competition where everyone can take part. Send me an e-mail with a little rime for the 5th birthday which has to contain the following 5 phrases "5 years, lightship pages, light vessels, congratulations and Iris" I will put all entries on a special page and the best 5 rimes will be rewarded with a tea/coffee mug of the German lightship ELBE 1 :-)
January 1st, 2006	In my opinion the former Swedish lightship no. 5 Utgrunden seems to be the oldest preserved lightship in the world. It is privately owned today, renamed to Svenska Björn again and 140 years old. Do you know any other preserved lightships of that age?
January 1st, 2006	A very Happy New Year 2006 to all visitors and friends of my lightship webpages!