Aurora Australis (or the Southend Lights…)

Russell Cheshire

It would seem that there has been some speculation about the mysterious twin lights seen hovering over Pladda. Instead of the usual welcoming sweep of light from the lighthouse, a series of harsh bluish flashes has become the greeting to the Firth of Clyde. (Just like the drive into any city on the mainland, perhaps?)

But not to worry; this is only a temporary arrangement while the main light is replaced by something more efficient and less environmentally damaging…

The Northern Lighthouse Board has arranged for the ageing diesel generator system to be exchanged for a state-of-the-art solar powered series of batteries. These are being fitted by a firm from Orkney, and we have the job of transporting the team to and from Pladda.

At Hogmanay there was a technical problem with the old light which required attention from a team of NLB electricians from Edinburgh; it was too foggy for a helicopter flight so we ferried them out to Pladda – as you can see the conditions were challenging – Pladda was invisible until well past Dippen Head.

The following day we were back for some extra fixes – and we had the chance of a tour of the lighthouse, so we didn’t need asking twice…

In mid-February we took the surveyor from NLB out to inspect the main work-in-progress – this time the conditions were absolutely perfect, so we took the opportunity to stay on Pladda for a few hours and see for ourselves what was happening; the progress has been astounding. The new solar panel array is in place on the west side of the lighthouse:There are 62 panels on the framework, which is made from welded aluminium alloy fixed to twelve one-tonne concrete blocks.

The array is about 5 metres in height and faces south-south-west to get the maximum light from the sky.

Outside the lamp room of the main tower are the two temporary lights, one each to the east and west sides of the gallery; they keep the same sequence as the original light but are independently powered by 3solar panels and their own batteries:

The new main lamp is in situ in the tower, but is literally “under wraps” pending commissioning.

While we were aloft we took advantage of the weather (we could see Arran this time!) to get a
 few snaps of Kildonan:

– and also a view not for those of a nervous disposition:

The work is scheduled for completion by mid-April, when the usual light pattern will be restored – and those strange blue lights will finally disappear from Pladda…

Please visit: Ocean Breeze RiB Tours for more information.