Carpentaria LV CLS4
Australia had several lightships (or Lightvessels) as navigational aids where lighthouses could not be built. Many were older ships that could be towed into position and anchored. Early lightships were manned but CLS4 was built as an unmanned vessel.
History
When the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service took over responsibility for lighthouses in 1915 they set about building four purpose built lightships in 1916 and 1917. CLS4 spent most of its working life marking the Merkara Shoals in the Gulf of Carpentaria, hence the name along its side.
It was also periodically moved to Sandy Cape in Queensland. CLS4 was towed to Bass Strait in 1983 to serve as a traffic separator for ships working in the oilfields. It was retired in 1985.
Image: Dirk Selderyk
Image: Dirk Selderyk
Image: Dirk Selderyk
© All images are copyright of their respective photographers and are not to be used without permission.
| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
Robertsons Point | Athol Wharf Rd, Cremorne Point NSW 2088, Australia | Robertsons Point |
Fort Denison | 1d Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia | Fort Denison |
Carpentaria LV CLS4 | 20 Murray St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia | Carpentaria LV CLS4 |
Keepers
The CLS lightships were not manned.
Technical Details
| First Exhibited | 1917 |
| Built | Cockatoo Island Dockyard Sydney |
| Construction | Riveted steel |
| Engine | No |
| Crew | No |
| Length | 21.94 m overall 21.51 m waterline |
| Beam | 7.82 m |
| Draft | 2.74 m |
| Displacement | 164 tonnes |
| Retired | 1985 |
| Power Source | Acetylene Gas |
| Intensity | 1500 cp |
| Range | 10 NM (18.5 km) |
Access
The lightship is docked at the Australian Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
Tours
No tours of the lightship are available.
Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum.
Associated Lighthouse
Carpentaria CLS2 – Qld Maritime Museum
Sources
- Interpretative materials