Bedok Lighthouse

Bedok Lighthouse
Bedok Lighthouse (at the top of the second from left building) from East Coast Park
LocationBedok, Singapore
Coordinates1°18.54′N 103°55.97′E / 1.30900°N 103.93283°E / 1.30900; 103.93283[1]
Tower
Automated1978
Height76 metres (249 ft)
ShapeHut
MarkingsRed
OperatorMaritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
Light
First lit1978
Light sourceLamp
Intensity600,000
Range42 kilometres (26 mi; 23 nmi)
CharacteristicWhite flash every 5s

Bedok Lighthouse (Chinese: 勿洛灯塔, Malay: Rumah Api Bedok, Tamil: பிடோக் கலங்கரை விளக்கம்)[2] is an automated lighthouse in Bedok, Singapore. It is the first fully autonomous lighthouse and the first to be located on top of a residential building in Singapore. Bedok Lighthouse is operated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). First announced in March 1978, Bedok Lighthouse commenced operations on 9 August 1978 to replace the Fullerton Lighthouse. Initially operated by the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), the MPA took over operations of the lighthouse in February 1996. In February 2014, there was a tender call by the MPA to build a new lighthouse to replace the Bedok Lighthouse, though as of date, Bedok Lighthouse is still operational. Bedok lighthouse is on top of a 25-storey residential building, which is 76 metres (249 ft) above sea level. Despite being near other buildings, Bedok Lighthouse's equipment is reported to not have bothered residents of said building. Even though the lighthouse is automated, it is monitored and has a skeleton crew.

History

On 20 March 1978, it was announced by the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) that a lighthouse in Bedok would replace the Fullerton Lighthouse as the latter was obscured by the development of high-rise buildings in the Marina Bay area. Equipment for the Bedok Lighthouse was expected to be fitted in the middle of May with at a cost of S$175,000 (1978) (US$76,956.06). However, the equipment's delivery from the United Kingdom was delayed, with expected delivery by August.[3][4] The lighthouse began operating on 9 August 1978 and cost S$225,000 (1978) (US$98,943.5) to build. The Fullerton Lighthouse would continue to operate until the end of the year.[5][6][7]

The maintenance and provision of lighthouses in Singapore was transferred to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on 2 February 1996,[8][9] with the PSA later privatised on 1 October 1997.[10] In February 2014, a tender call was made by the MPA to build a new lighthouse on top of a HDB flat in Marine Terrace, which was to replace the Bedok Lighthouse and expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2015.[11] However, Bedok lighthouse is still operational as of date.[a]

Details

Bedok Lighthouse is an automated lighthouse on top of a 25-storey executive flat at Lagoon View, Marine Parade Road, which is in the Bedok area.[5][11][12] Operated and maintained by the Hydrographic Division of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA),[13][14] it is 76 metres (249 ft) above sea level and has a 600,000 candela lamp with a visibility of 42 kilometres (26 mi). The lamp cannot be seen, nor can the lighthouse's sound equipment be heard, by residents of nearby buildings.[6][12][15] Even though Bedok Lighthouse is automated, it is monitored by a telegraph line from the Port Operations Room in the PSA Towers.[12][15] It also has a skeleton crew to prevent vandalism.[16] The lighthouse's light characteristic 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.[17] Bedok Lighthouse is Singapore's first fully autonomous lighthouse as well as the first to be on top of a residential building in mainland Singapore.[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Bedok Lighthouse is listed as one of the reference points that vessels can use to report to the MPA.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Vessel Traffic Information System". Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Government Terms Translated". gov.sg. 7 July 2025. From English to Malay. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  3. ^ "New Bedok lighthouse". New Nation. 20 March 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 17 April 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ "DELAY IN $86,000 GEAR FOR NEW LIGHTHOUSE". The Straits Times. 24 July 1978. p. 7. Retrieved 18 April 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ a b "Lighthouse in Bedok goes into operation". The Straits Times. 9 August 1978. Retrieved 28 July 2013 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ a b "600,000 CANDLES BRIGHT". The Business Times. 9 August 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 17 April 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ Muthu, S. M. (22 January 1980). "Dark days for lighthouse after 19 glowing years". The Straits Times. p. 8. Retrieved 5 July 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "Bill for new body to regulate port industry passed". The Straits Times. 19 January 1996. p. 1. Retrieved 5 July 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ^ "Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996 – Part 3". Singapore Stautes Online (legislation archive). 5 July 2025 [30 Janurary 1996 (assented)]. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Port of Singapore Authority (Dissolution) Act (Commencement) Notification 1997". Government gazette. Subsidiary legislation supplement. Singapore Government. 1997. p. 419.
  11. ^ a b 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.
  12. ^ a b c "Lamp at PSA's new lighthouse in Bedok". The Straits Times. 18 August 1978. p. 13. Retrieved 17 April 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ "Aids to Navigation". MPA Singapore. 5 July 2025. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  14. ^ Ooi, Peter (1 December 2000). "Beacon of HOPE". TODAY. p. 18. Retrieved 5 July 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  15. ^ a b c "Bedok Lighthouse at Lagoon View". ROOTS. December 2019. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Even the retired are recalled". New Nation. 13 July 1982. pp. 28–29. Retrieved 17 April 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  17. ^ 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.
External media
A photograph of wireless equipment at Bedok Lighthouse Source: Maritime Port Authority (MPA)
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