Lightvessel

A lightvessel is a conventional ship which acts as a lighthouse. It has no means of propulsion and is permanently anchored. It is used in waters which are too deep for a lighthouse, and instead of marking coastlines, a lightvessel marks marine traffic routes. It is superior to a buoy because it has much higher-powered navigational aids.

Lightvessels also usually carry data recorders used in oceanography for research purposes, e.g. wave recorders.

In England and Wales, Trinity House is in charge of all lightvessels. All are now unmanned, but had nine crew in the past. At present, there are 14 lightvessels and 2 smaller lightfloats. The first lightvessel was converted to solar power in 1995, and more are due to be converted.

"Lightvessel" in other languages: German Feuerschiff, Danish Fyrskib...

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See: List of lighthouses and lightvessels, Lightvessels in the United Kingdom...