VYPIN LIGHTHOUSE

The Lighthouse is situated on Vypin Island opposite to Cochin. There is a regular boat service for Vypin from Ernakulam Boat Jetty. The Lighthouse is about 5 km from Vypin Jetty and is linked by an all-weather road. Presently Vypin is connected by road to the mainland via 3 over bridges from Ernakulam.

The modernization and development of Cochin port was taken up in the mid-19th century. This newly formed island, running from North to South, was named Willington Island. It harbored ships on both of its sides – North East and North West respectively called Ernakulam Wharf and Mattancherry Wharf. There is regular passenger cum cargo ship service from Cochin port to different islands in Lakshadweep. Other cargo ships call on the port regularly. Cochin is the base of the Indian Navy’s Southern Command. The Cochin Shipyard built its first vessel ‘Rani Padmini’ (85000 tonnes) and sailed it here in 1984.The first Lighthouse was provided in 1839 at Fort Cochin. It was a masonry column constructed at a site south of the entrance to port. The light source was an oil wick lamp inside 6th order optic with fixed character. The system worked for 63 years and in 1902 it was improved by inducting a new lantern and an optic. In 1914 a 4th order cut and polished optic and occulting mechanism replaced the earlier equipment. A new 10 m high column was constructed in 1920. It was painted in two white and one black band. The same lighthouse equipment was shifted onto this new column. A steel Trestle tower of 25 m in height, painted grey was erected. The DA gas equipment with flasher inside a 300 mm cut and polished drum optic was installed on the trestle tower. In the year 1966 a sun valve was introduced. A plan was drawn up to provide a taller tower with powerful electric light and a Radio beacon. However, since the land was not available in Fort Cochin area, the lighthouse was shifted to Puthuvaipe and commissioned in the year 1979. Conversion of incandescent lamp to 3-point lamp changer unit(400W,230V) took place in the year 1998.The 3-point lamp changer unit (400W,230V) was replaced with the presently used Cluster lamp assembly consisting of 4 Nos. 150W MH lamp, dual stand by stepper motor unit and auto change over unit on 09-08-2003. The elevator of capacity (5 person-320 Kg) is installed inside the Lighthouse tower by M/s Axis Elevator & Escalators Pvt Ltd, Kochion 23-11-2015.

Master Ledger of VYPIN LIGHTHOUSE (999.71 KB)