PORTLAND BILL LIGHTHOUSE

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Visit to Portland Bill Lighthouse

The lighthouse is automatic, but there is an ex RN curator who will explain it all, after you climb 153 steps. He runs radar, AIS and electronic charts which are good examples - see down the page

see http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/portland_bill.html

Portland Race on a bad day

Height Of Tower	41 Metres
Height Of Light Above Mean High Water Springs	43 Metres
Automated	1996
Lamp	1 Kw Mbi
Optic	4 Panel 1st Order Catadioptric Fixed Lens
Character	White Group Flashing 4 Times every 20 seconds
Intensity	635,000 Candela
Range Of Light	25 Nautical Miles
Fog Signal Character	3.5 second blast every 30 seconds

Weymouth Harbour	Portland Bill Lighthouse	Foghorn
Compressed air for foghorn	Reserve batteries	1,000 Watts (and a spare)
Lens & bulbs

AIS Plot (Automatic Identification System)

Every ship over 300 tons has to carry a transmitter sending : Name of Vessel, position, course, speed and 9 digit MMSI number (VHF radio call identity). The plot shows these in mid Channel, the shipping lanes are clearly visible. The plotting software is Seapro.

Radar Plot - not so clear as AIS, but ships' positions and direction of travel are clear, with some MMSI numbers. You would have to plot course and speed yourself, though a good radar will tell you of a risk of collision via MARPA.