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Commonwealth Lightship 4, Carpentaria, was 1 of 4 unmanned lightships built at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, in 1916-17. It originally used an automatic acetylene light with a sunlight-operated valve to turn it on and off. Painted red with its name in huge letters on the side, it was easily recognisable to navigators.
The light on CLS4 was powered by a six-month supply of acetylene gas held in tanks. The flow of gas, which was ignited by a pilot flame, was controlled by an automatic mechanism to produce the characteristic code of flashes. A warning bell tolled with the rolling of the ship.
The lightships felt the fury of the sea and were frequently rotated between pairs and returned to port for maintenance. CLS4 spent much time in the Gulf, hence the name Carpentaria emblazoned along the side, but was last stationed in the Bass Strait oilfields serving as a traffic separator. The lightship retired from service in 1985 after several close encounters with container shipping in Bass Strait, one of which almost sent the sturdy, steel-hulled vessel to the bottom! A more modern design of lightship has replaced CLS4.
The Frontenac, loaded with Lake Superior iron ore destined for Nanticoke, is downbound on the Detroit River.
March 29, 2013
IMO 7413218
Port Huron, Michigan, USA
bulk carrier
flag: Canada [CA]
owner: Canada Steamship Lines
built: 1977
length; 730ft
ex name Jean Parisien 1977-2005