Ras Marshag Lighthouse
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The dark blue stone conical tower of the lighthouse at Ras Marshag Promontory was built in 1866 by Chance Brothers, lighthouse engineers, of Birmingham, England. It had been commissioned by the Government of Bombay who were at that time administering Aden.
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The lighthouse was first lighted in 1867, producing just a few candlepower from its coconut-oil burner, fixed lamp. In 1889 it was updated with a new multiple-burner, mineral oil pressure lamp which increased the brightness and reduced the operating cost. It was around this time that the Aden Port Trust came into being and on June 8, 1889 the lighthouse was officially handed over by the government executive engineer to the Port Officer.
The light is 244 feet in height from high water and the building itself is 85 feet from base to vane.
A later photo taken 1950-1960
An early photo. Taken 1920-1940
Chance Brothers were engaged again in 1904 and the light underwent a major improvement with an increase to 13,500 candle-power by using incandescent mantles and burners consuming petroleum vapour. It was also converted from a 'fixed' light to 'occulting'. The light would appear for 3 seconds, go dark for 2 seconds, then repeat. This was ingeniously but simply achieved by suspending a cylinder over the lamp which was raised and lowered by a pulley gear and controlled by a clockwork mechanism.
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The conversion work was overseen by Mr. Fred Tickle of Chance Brothers who had come from England to undertake the month-long task. On the night of 27th February 1904 the Royal Indian Marine steamer Dalhousie was chartered to convey a party of Aden's notables to witness the relighting event. It was a great success and they celebrated with a dinner aboard the Dalhousie.
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But shortly after Mr. Tickle had returned to England the light failed and a government enquiry followed. It was eventually put back into working order and later fitted with a catadioptic mirror behind the lamp which increased the output to 61,000 candle-power. But by far the biggest boost was in 1962 when the output jumped to 308,000 upon its conversion to electricity. The job had been undertaken by Stone Chance Ltd., successors to the original builders, Chance Brothers.
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The lighthouse has been of use to vessels mainly coming from an easterly direction as those coming from a westerly direction would lose sight of the light behind Ras Tye. Vessels approaching from westward would only see the lighthouse when Jebel Hassan or Little Aden bears true north 3.5 miles.
Co-ordinates: 12°46'N 45°03'E