Minicoy South Lighthouse & Dgps Station

The ceremony of laying the first stone was performed in May 1883 by Howah Manika Bephanu, the youngest daughter of Amin of Minicoy, M.Bephanu. The special Birmingham black bricks, Structural steel, other hard ware and wooden items, special cement made in Holland and the components of lighting equipments, supplied by M/s Chance Bros, Birmingham, were all brought from England by a special ship which remained anchored at Minicoy till the completion of project. The lighthouse was formally inaugurated on 2nd February 1885 in presence of Minicoy Amin and Sir James Douglas representing the British Govt, who specially came from England for the purpose. Minicoy Lighthouse remained under the direct control of Board of Trade, England up till 1934 then it was placed under the charge of the Superintendent, Imperial Lighthouse Service, Colombo. This arrangement continued even after the independence. The British Government did not transfer the administration of Lighthouse to the Government of India till April 1956. The De-Jure transfer had to wait further, till 19th September 1963, as both houses of the British Parliament had to pass a requisite legislation, which required the assent by the Queen of England. The ceremony of the formal transfer of Lighthouse was held on 2nd April 1956 when the Union Jack was lowered and the Indian Tricolor was. In year 1928 the wick lamp was replaced by 35mm PV Burner. In the year 1968 major transformation took place.The 1st order optic assembly in 3.66m diameter lantern house and 85 mm PV Burner supplied by M/s B.B.T. Paris, replaced the old equipment. In 1981-82 „Nautel‟ (Canada) Radio beacon was installed and put on the Air on 31st January 1982. The PV light source was replaced by 230V 400W Metal halide lamp which on 9th May 1995. The Differential Geo Positioning System (DGPS) equipment manufactured by M/s Leica Geo Systems, U.S.A. and supplied by M/s. Elcom Marine, Mumbai was integrated on 15th August 1998 and the Radio beacon discontinued. The old „Nautel‟ transmitter war replaced by SAC , USA make transmitter on 30th June, 2003.

Master Ledger of Minicoy South Lighthouse & Dgps Station(941.77 KB)