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. One of these, Lightship Ambrose (built 1908) 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 about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) off the coast of Sandy Hook, New Jersey[3] in about 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 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 was living quarters for a 6 to 9 man crew. The roof of the platform served as a flight deck for helicopters, the main mode of transport to 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.
On a clear night in October 1996 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. 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.[4]
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.[5]
References
Notes
^U.S. Coast Guard (July 25, 2008). "Ambrose Light to be deconstructed after 41 years of service 2008-09-24 at the Wayback Machine". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-07-25.
^Yanchmus, Dom. "Ambrose Light, deemed obsolete, passes into history". Professional Mariner. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
^NGS says in 1986 the NAD83 position of the light itself was 40.459806N 73.830533W.
^NTSB Allision of Bahamas‐Registered Tankship M/T Axel Spirit with Ambrose Light Entrance to New York Harbor November 3, 2007
. United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
U.S. Coast Guard - Information on lightships
National Data Buoy Center - Station ALSN6 - Ambrose Light
Approaches to New York Harbor, NOAA Chart 12326 online.
External links
- Story about destruction of original structure
Night Beacon - About lightships, including Ambrose Lightship
- Current location of the Ambrose Lightship
- Information, charts, and history of Ambrose light station
January 31, 2023
ambrose, light, this, article, about, light, tower, brigantine, ship, lightship, lightship, ambrose, often, called, ambrose, tower, light, station, convergence, several, major, shipping, lanes, lower, york, including, ambrose, channel, primary, passage, ships,. This article is about the light tower For the brigantine see Ambrose Light ship For the lightship see Lightship Ambrose 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 Ambrose LightAmbrose light station rebuilt in 1999 This light station was dismantled in 2008 LocationLower New York Bay Ambrose ChannelCoordinates40 27 00 N 73 48 00 W 40 45000 N 73 80000 W 40 45000 73 80000 Coordinates 40 27 00 N 73 48 00 W 40 45000 N 73 80000 W 40 45000 73 80000TowerConstructed1823 FoundationSteel pilesConstructionSteelAutomated1988Height76 feet 23 m ShapeTower on red square worded AMBROSEFog signalHorn 2 every 15sRacon N LightFirst lit1823 Ambrose Lightship 1967 Texas Tower 1999 New Tower Deactivated1999 Texas Tower 2008 New Tower Focal height23 m 75 ft Intensity60 000 candlesRange18 nautical miles 33 km 21 mi CharacteristicFlashing White 5 secondsThe 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 Edit 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 One of these Lightship Ambrose built 1908 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 about 7 5 miles 12 1 km off the coast of Sandy Hook New Jersey 3 in about 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 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 was living quarters for a 6 to 9 man crew The roof of the platform served as a flight deck for helicopters the main mode of transport to 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 On a clear night in October 1996 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 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 4 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 5 References EditNotes U S Coast Guard July 25 2008 Ambrose Light to be deconstructed after 41 years of service Archived 2008 09 24 at the Wayback Machine Press release Retrieved on 2008 07 25 Yanchmus Dom Ambrose Light deemed obsolete passes into history Professional Mariner Retrieved on 2009 02 07 NGS says in 1986 the NAD83 position of the light itself was 40 459806N 73 830533W NTSB Allision of Bahamas Registered Tankship M T Axel Spirit with Ambrose Light Entrance to New York Harbor November 3 2007 Sandy Hook Pilots website Archived 2006 05 27 at the Wayback Machine Sources Lighthouse Depot Reference article Light List Volumes 1 7 United States Coast Guard Ambrose Light is listed as number 720 Historic Light Station Information and Photography New York United States Coast Guard Historian s Office Archived from the original on 2017 05 01 U S Coast Guard Information on lightships National Data Buoy Center Station ALSN6 Ambrose Light Approaches to New York Harbor NOAA Chart 12326 online External links EditLighthouse Depot Story about destruction of original structure Night Beacon About lightships including Ambrose Lightship South Street Seaport Museum Current location of the Ambrose Lightship New Jersey Scuba Diver Information charts and history of Ambrose light station Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ambrose Light amp oldid 1134428231, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
