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Bedok Lighthouse

Coordinates: 1°18.544′N 103°55.965′E / 1.309067°N 103.932750°E / 1.309067; 103.932750
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Bedok Lighthouse
Bedok Lighthouse (at the top of the second from left building) from East Coast Park
Map
LocationBedok, Singapore
Coordinates1°18.544′N 103°55.965′E / 1.309067°N 103.932750°E / 1.309067; 103.932750[1]
Tower
Automated1978
Height76 metres (249 ft)
ShapeHut
MarkingsRed
OperatorPort Authority of Singapore
Light
First lit1978
Light sourceLamp
Intensity600,000
Range42 kilometres (26 mi; 23 nmi)
CharacteristicWhite flash every 5s

Bedok Lighthouse (Chinese: 勿洛灯塔) is an automated lighthouse located Bedok, Singapore. It commenced operations on 9 August 1978 and was intended to replace the Fullerton Lighthouse in the Fullerton Hotel. The lighthouse is located on top of a 25-storey executive flat at Lagoon View, Marine Parade Road. In February 2014, there was a call by Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for tenders to build a new lighthouse to replace the Bedok Lighthouse. However, as of 2020, Bedok Lighthouse is still operational.

76 metres (249 ft) above sea level, it has a 600,000 candela lamp with a visibility of 42 kilometres (26 mi), with its light characteristic being one white flash every 5 seconds visible for 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi). Despite being near other buildings, Bedok Lighthouse's lamp as well as its sounding equipment cannot be seen and is silent, respectively. Even though it is automated, it is monitored by the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and has a skeleton crew.

History

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The Bedok Lighthouse flashes a white light every 5 seconds

In March 1978, it was announced by the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) that Bedok lighthouse would replace the Fullerton Lighthouse as it would be obscured by the development of high-rise buildings in the Marina Bay area, with equipment for the Bedok Lighthouse expected to be fitted in the middle of May with at a cost of S$175,000 (1978) (US$76,956.06).[2] However, the delivery of the equipment, which was from the United Kingdom, was delayed with expected delivery by August.[3] The lighthouse began operating on 9 August 1978, costing S$225,000 (1978) (US$98,943.5). The Fullerton Lighthouse would continue to operate until the end of the year.[4][5] Submarine cables were laid to Bedok Lighthouse in November.[6]

In February 2014, a call for tender to build a new lighthouse atop the 25-storey high Block 3, Marine Terrace was put out by Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. This block was chosen to replace Bedok Lighthouse and would have been operational by the third quarter of 2015.[7] However, the lighthouse still remained on the condominium as of 2020.[a] It would be the first lighthouse atop an HDB block.[7]

Details

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External media
image icon A photograph of wireless equipment at Bedok Lighthouse Source: Maritime Port Authority (MPA)

Bedok Lighthouse is an automated, British-made lighthouse on top of Block 5000K, a 25-storey executive flat at Lagoon View, Marine Parade Road.[7][9] It is 76 metres (249 ft) above sea level. It has a 600,000 candela lamp with a visibility of 42 kilometres (26 mi). Despite being near other buildings, the lamp as well as its sounding equipment cannot be seen and is silent as it is vibration-free, respectively.[5][9] Even though Bedok Lighthouse is automated, it is monitored by a telegraph line from the Port Operations Room in the PSA Towers.[9] It also has a skeleton crew to prevent vandalism.[10] The light characteristic shown is one white flash every 5 seconds (Fl.W. 5s) visible for 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi). Its structure has been described as a "red hut" in the United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's list of lights.[11]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The current coordinates of Bedok Lighthouse is still listed as one of the reference points which vessels can use in their ship reports to the Vessel Traffic Information System.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Reporting Procedures for Vessels Arriving at Singapore and Manoeuvering in Port". Port Marine Circulars. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). 24 November 1997. Archived from the original on 2005-08-28. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  2. ^ "New Bedok lighthouse". New Nation. 20 March 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  3. ^ "DELAY IN $86,000 GEAR FOR NEW LIGHTHOUSE". The Straits Times. 24 July 1978. p. 7. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Lighthouse in Bedok goes into operation". The Straits Times. 9 August 1978. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b "600,000 CANDLES BRIGHT". The Business Times. 9 August 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Cable-laying off Bedok Lighthouse". The Straits Times. 26 November 1979. p. 14. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b c Goh, Chin Lian (4 February 2014). "First lighthouse atop HDB block". Asia One. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Vessel Traffic Information System". Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Lamp at PSA's new lighthouse in Bedok". The Straits Times. 18 August 1978. p. 13. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Even the retired are recalled". New Nation. 13 July 1982. pp. 28–29. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  11. ^ List of Lights, Pub. 112: Western Pacific and Indian Oceans Including the Persian Gulf and Red Sea (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2010. p. 325.
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