Port Shepstone

LIGHTHOUSE DETAILS
Name Port Shepstone
Structure 8 metres circular cast iron tower. Painted with black white cheques
Other Features The lighthouse is equipped with a radio beacon and fully automatic. It is run off the mains supply and has two standby diesel/alternator sets
Date Installed 10 March 1905
Description The lighthouse is situated at the mouth of the Umzimkulu River on the Natal South Coast. The town was named after a well known statesman in native affairs, Sir Theophilus Shepstone.
The Port Shepstone lighthouse was developed out of a signal station, which was used during the time that Port Shepstone was an operating Harbour. The signal Station was replaced by the present cast iron structure of the lighthouse in 1906. This structure came from higher up the coast, Scottburgh, where it had been used to mark the southern end of that famous hidden reef, the Aliwal Shoal.
Before these developments an ordinary ships masthead lantern was exhibited at the top of a ladder like structure and came into operation in 1895.
The lighthouse is painted in black and white cheques has become a familiar landmark to people who visit the quaint little town of Port Shepstone, which is approximately a 2 hour drive South of Durban. The coastline running south from this beacon is notorious for its wrecks, in fact this stretch of coastline between Port Shepstone and Cape Hermes at Port St Johns is particularly dangerous.
Probably the most famous of these wrecks are the Sao Joao and the Grosvenor. The Sao Joao, a richly laden Portuguese Galleon was wrecked with its alleged riches have never been located. The Grosvenor sank beneath the waves off the Pondoland shore with her hoard which legend insists included jewels, gold and silver bars and some say the fabulous Peacock Throne of the Moguls believed to be worth well over 6 Million Pounds.
Razor sharp rocks, strong currents, pounding surf and inaccessibility to this wreck has put paid to recovering any treasures that might lie beneath the murky waters.

LIGHT DETAILS
Light Type Revolving electric (unatt
Light Character 1 flash every 6 seconds
Light Range 26 sea miles
Light Power 1 130 000 CD
Height of focal Plane 24 metres above high water

POSITION
Position 30 44 30.1 South, 30 27 33.0 East