Ambrose Light

This article is about the light tower. For the brigantine, see Ambrose Light (ship). For the lightship, see Lightship Ambrose.
Ambrose Light

Ambrose light station, rebuilt in 1999. This light station was dismantled in 2008.
Location Lower New York Bay; Ambrose Channel
Coordinates 40°27′00″N 73°48′00″W / 40.45000°N 73.80000°W / 40.45000; -73.80000Coordinates: 40°27′00″N 73°48′00″W / 40.45000°N 73.80000°W / 40.45000; -73.80000
Year first lit

1823 (Ambrose Lightship), 1967 (Texas Tower)

1999 (New Tower)
Automated 1988
Deactivated

1999 (Texas Tower),

2008 (New Tower)
Foundation Steel piles
Construction Steel
Tower shape Tower on red square worded AMBROSE
Height 76 feet (23 m)
Intensity 60,000 candles
Range 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi)
Characteristic Flashing White 5 seconds
Fog signal Horn 2 every 15s
Racon "N" (−∘)

Ambrose Light, often called Ambrose Tower, was the light station at the convergence of several major shipping lanes in Lower New York Bay, including Ambrose Channel, the primary passage for ships entering and departing the Port of New York and New Jersey.

The tower, which was owned and maintained by the United States Coast Guard, was located at 40°28′N 73°50′W / 40.46°N 73.83°W / 40.46; -73.83.

On July 25, 2008, the Coast Guard announced that Ambrose Light, which was severely damaged when a tanker struck it on November 3, 2007, would be dismantled.[1]

The removal work was done by Costello Dismantling Co. in September 2008. The tugboats Sea Wolf, Sea Bear and Miss Yvette assisted. The Coast Guard has replaced the light with flashing buoys.[2]

History

Lightship Ambrose
Original Ambrose Light Station, a Texas Tower built in 1967

Various lightships held this station from 1823 until its replacement in 1967. The original was only the fourth lightship designed and commissioned to serve a U.S. coastal port. The first Lightship Ambrose is now a museum in New York City.

The original light station was put into operation on August 23, 1967, replacing the obsolete Lightship Ambrose, and cost $2.4 million. The tower design was a Texas Tower, a very strong steel pipe structure based on the oil platforms built for use in the Gulf of Mexico. The structure was prefabricated in Norfolk, Virginia and shipped in sections on barges for assembly on-site. The tower station was situated about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) off of the coast of Sandy Hook, New Jersey in approximately 70 feet (21 m) of water and was supported by four 42-inch (1,100 mm) steel pipes, sunk down about 245 feet (75 m) to the bedrock. The light was about 136 feet (41 m) above mean low water and the 10,000,000 candle-power light could be seen for 18 miles (29 km).

The lower deck was designed for fuel and water storage while the top deck served as living quarters for a 6 to 9 man crew. The roof of the platform also served as a flight deck for helicopters, the main mode of transport to and from the station for crew rotations. The tower was automated and the crew was removed from duty on October 15, 1988. Ambrose light station was controlled electronically by the United States Coast Guard station on Governors Island until the island and base were transferred to New York State and City for $1 in 2003.

In October 1996, on a clear night the 754-foot (230 m) Greek oil tanker Aegeo struck the tower, causing severe damage. Coast Guard Lighthouse Technicians verified that the light was functioning properly when the tanker hit the tower. The Aegeo's captain was later found to be at fault. Three years later, in September 1999 after repairs were deemed insufficient, the old structure was razed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and replaced with a new tower. The new tower was built about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the old site, and was approximately 76 feet (23 m) above mean low water, and the 60,000 candle-power light was visible for 18 miles (29 km).

In January 2001, the 492-foot (150 m) Maltese freighter Kouros V struck the new tower, shortly after the repairs from the previous incident had been completed. This time, the tower suffered extensive damage, and the light was rendered inoperable. A temporary lighted buoy was set by the Coast Guard on November 7.

On November 3, 2007, the 819-foot (250 m) Bahamas-Registered Tankship M/T Axel Spirit struck the tower. This time, Ambrose Light was damaged beyond repair.[3]

On July 25, 2008, the Coast Guard announced the dismantlement of Ambrose Light would begin on July 28, 2008.

The tower carried NOAA's National Data Buoy Center automated weather station ALSN6, which was of interest to scuba divers, fishermen, and other small craft users. The tower was a staging point for pilot ships, notably the Sandy Hook Pilots.[4]

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Coast Guard (July 25, 2008). "Ambrose Light to be deconstructed after 41 years of service". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-07-25.
  2. ↑ Yanchmus, Dom. " Ambrose Light, deemed obsolete, passes into history". Professional Mariner. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
  3. ↑ NTSB Allision of Bahamas‐Registered Tankship M/T Axel Spirit with Ambrose Light Entrance to New York Harbor November 3, 2007
  4. ↑ Sandy Hook Pilots website

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 4/16/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.