SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1977
HONG KONG'S LARGEST LIGHTHOUSE MODERNISED
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WAGLAN LIGHTHOUSE, THE LARGEST MANNED LIGHTHOUSE IN HONG KONG, HAS BEEN MODERNISED TO COPE WITH THE EVER INCREASING OCEAN TRAFFIC TO HONG KONG.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1.2 MILLION SHIPPING TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME AND THE LAYING OF IMMERSED TUBES FOR THE X.T.R. ACROSS THE HARBOUR HAS RESULTED IN MORE VESSELS ENTERING OR LEAVING HONG KONG HARBOUR VIA THE WESTERN INSTEAD OF THE EASTERN APPROACHES.
DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, 7,540 INWARD BOUND AND 7,300 OUTWARD BOUND OCEAN-GOING VESSELS WERE REPORTED BY THE WAGLAN LIGHTHOUSE.
MR. JIMMY DEAKIN, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S SUPERINTENDENT OF LIGHTS SAID THAT THE P.W.D. WOULD SOON ENLARGE THE SIGNAL TOWER, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS THERE TO OBTAIN BETTER VISIBILITY ON THE WESTERN APPROACHES.
+ THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ALSO INTENDS TO BUILD A HELIPAD ON THE BARREN ISLAND WHICH IS ABOUT 12.5 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES. AN INVESTIGATION OF A POSSIBLE LANDING SITE HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT, HE SAID.
*AT PRESENT, THE PIER ON WAGLAN IS BEING USED AS HELIPAD AND A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE IS CAUSED TO BOTH THE LIGHTHOUSE STAFF AND THE HELICOPTER PILOTS, MR. DEAKIN NOTED.
A NUMBER OF MAJOR RENOVATION WORKS RECENTLY CARRIED OUT ON THE ISLAND INCLUDED THE RE-INSTALLATION OF WINDOWS IN THE SIGNAL TOWER AND ENLARGING AND WATERPROOFING WINDOW-FRAMES. THE IMPROVEMENTS ENABLED THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS TO HAVE AN UNOBSTRUCTED AND A WIDER RANGE OF VISIBILITY AND A BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
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THE WINDOW-PANES WERE ALSO FITTED WITH THE LATEST INDSHIELD WIPER, WHICH HAS A SPEED OF UP TO 1,400 RCTATIONS PER MINUTE.
THE WIPERS WILL BE VERY USEFUL IN HEAVY RAINS DURING THE RAINY SEASON, + MR. DEAKIN POINTED OUT.
THE LIGHT BEACON, WHICH IS THE MAIN FEATURE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, ALSO UNDERWENT RENOVATION DURING THE YEAR.
WEIGHING ABOUT HALF A TON, THE LENS OF THE LIGHT BEACON WAS ORIGINALLY DRIVEN BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. BUT NOW, A SOPHISTICATED ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WITH A 12 VOLT, SECHARGEABLE CAR BATTERY IS DRIVING THE MASSIVE LENS,
IN FOGGY CONDITIONS IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF EACH YEAR DIAPHONE SIGNALS WOULD SUPPLEMENT THE LIGHT BEACON TO ASSIST SHIP MASTERS NAVIGATING THE EASY AND SAFE APPROACH TO OUR PORT, THUS AVOIDING POSSIBLE DISASTERS, YR. DEMII' 3412.
/+AS LOV×NDED