Greater Wellington lights the way for outbound shipping

An additional navigation light designed to help ships safely navigate their exit from Wellington Harbour will be in place by mid-year.

The light, to be installed by Greater Wellington's Harbours Department for CentrePort, will be located close to Hinds Point, alongside the Pencarrow Coast Road approximately 3km south of Burdan's Gate.

"The light will replace an informal landmark used by pilots managing outbound shipping, especially vessels leaving the harbour from the Seaview Oil Wharf," says Greater Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder.

"With around 13,000 shipping movements annually in the harbour, navigation lights are essential to safety management. The Hinds Point light will give further reassurance for vessels leaving the harbour by providing a visible point which will the guide them onto established navigation routes."

The light will be installed on top of a 6m aluminium tower, coloured white on its seaward side to ensure it is visible as a day marker against the hillside. A solar powered LED light will be used for power, and the light will only be visible from sea, a few degrees either side of the 168 degree pilotage track.  

Consent has been obtained from Hutt City Council and installation is anticipated to take place mid-2019. 

Please note that the illustration shows how the light will look once construction is completed