| Length:
101 feet (ca. 30,78 m) |
| Beam:
25 feet (ca. 7,62 m) |
| Gross
tonnage: 250 t |
|
| Authority:
Northern Lighthouse Board |
|
Year of construction:
1932/33
|
|
Shipyard:
A & J Inglis, Pointhouse Shipyard, Glasgow
|
| Costs
of construction: 15,430 £ |
| Material:
Composite iron/steel |
|
|
| Character:
2 white flashes every 30 seconds |
| Optic:
Chance Brothers 1933 |
| Elevation:
40 feet (12,20 m) above sea level |
|
| Populsion:
no |
|
| Anchor:
stockless anchor, 3 t |
|
Foghorn: extraordinary
fog horn
|
| 03.04.1933 |
 
stationed at North Carr |
| 1933-1943 |
North
Carr station |
| 1943-1945 |
during
the war the lightship was moved to a station between the Mull of
Kintyre and the Mull of Galloway to mark the entrance to the Clyde,
the light was only lit, when ships were passing |
| 1945-1952 |
North Carr
station
|
| 1952 |
the
ship had a major refurbishment and was fitted with new diesel generators.
This was probably also the time, when toilets were installed in
the fiddley to replace those out on deck |
| 1952-1954 |
North Carr station |
| 1954 |
a
radio bacon was installed |
| 1954-1956 |
North Carr station |
| 1956 |
the
watch house was built - before this the man in watch stood on the
open deck in all weathers |
| 1956-58 |
North Carr station |
| 1958 |
the watch house was heated ly leading through it
the chimney from the stove in the officers saloon |
| 1958-1959 |
North
Carr station |
| 1959 |
on 8 December
1959, during a severe gale broke the lightship adrift from her
moorings but managed to anchor about 900 yards off the rocky shore
at Kingsbarns, near St Andrews and the crew was taken off by a
helicopter on 9 December, after an attempt to tow the lightship
had failed. The rescue was made in extremely adverse conditions.
A full gale was blowing and the lightship was rolling and pitching
heavily. To assist in the rescue operations the crew cut away
the 40 feet aftermast, which allowed the helicopters to fly as
low as 5 feet above the lantern and pick up members of the crew
from the chart house roof. The lightvessel was eventually taken
in tow by the Admiralty tug "Earner" on 11 December, repaired
at Leith and put back on station on 16 March 1960
|
| 1960-1975 |
North Carr station |
| 1975 |
decommissioned
|
| May
1976 |
the
lightship was sold to the North East Fife District Council |
| July
1976 |
used as a floating
museum based in Anstruther Harbour
|
| January
2002 |
North Carr
is now based in Victoria Dock, Dundee and is used by the Maritime
Volunteer Service (MVS) as a base for Unit meetings and training
|
| 31.12.2003 |
Dr. Bill Richmond had been playing the pipes by the foghorn aboard
the North Carr lightship. He played away the last 5 minutes of 2003
and then the North Carr foghorn had been sounded to welcome in the
New Year, which was heard 3 miles away. This very moving event which
got a lot of publicity will be done every New Year from now on
|
| February
2004 |
the lightship is currently awaiting restoration in
Victoria Dock, Dundee. MVS Tay has prepared a grant application
to the Heritage Lottery Fund. If the application is successful,
it is anticipated that work will commence in May of that year. The
work will comprise stripping, priming and painting all the vulnerable
metalwork above the waterline, and replacing certain fixtures such
as hatch covers. It is anticipated that the works will cost £ 65,000
in total. |
| 2008 |
     
We spent a
wonderful week in Dundee and visited the lightship several times.
Thanks Bob for your hospitality and your kind help. NORTH CARR
is the last Scottish lightship and the Maritime Volunteer Service
(MVS) is collecting money for the restoration of this extraordinary
lightship now. Good luck, I hope you will be successful...
If someone
has news, I would be grateful for an e-mail
.
Link to the
North Carr lightship webpages:
http://www.northcarr.org.uk/
|
| Tip
1: |
The lens of the lightship was built in 1933 by Chance Brothers and
is on display at the Museum
of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh today. This museum is
worth a visit! |
| Tip 2: |
  
If anyone
wishes to visit the North Carr Lightship, the Braemore
Bed & Breakfast will give you a special rate for Bed &
Breakfast. Just mention my site and ask for a guided tour of the
vessel.
|
