Relocating a North Sea Landmark: The Unprecedented Journey of Roter Sand Lighthouse
Lighthouse searches for a new location to stand tall. - Historic Lighthouse Needs New Location Found
Keep it casual, mate!
The infamous red-and-white seafarer's beacon, the Roter Sand lighthouse, situated smack-dab in the middle of Wesermünde, ain't in tip-top shape, alas. Ole Windy and Wavy have been a-takin' a toll on this old girl, havin' been build back in the 1800s. Plans are in the works to haul her ashore, launchin' an unusual initiative that's got quite a few folks on the mainland perkier'n a cat on a hot tin roof—the towering monument could become a new hotspot for tourists. But where the hell are they gonna put her?
A heated competition's gone public amongst Wilhelmshaven, Bremerhaven, Hooksiel in the Frisian Wangerland, and Fedderwardersiel on the Butjadingen peninsula. Regarding the frontrunner, Thomas Mertz, spokesperson for the German Foundation for Monument Protection, told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, "Awright, mate, there ain't no clear favorite yet." The federal government owns the lighthouse, and the foundation looks after its care.
No decision's been made about the lighthouse's final home. The crew's still at it, and word might come out later this summer. "We're tryin' to make a quick decision, but we don't wanna rush things, specially with somethin' so special," says Mertz.
Movin' a lighthouse? Unheard of, mate! Denmark managed to move the lighthouse Rubjerg Knude on rails 70 meters back from a cliff in 2019. The Roter Sand lighthouse, however, is expectin' to travel dozens of kilometers from the sea to the mainland.
Why the long voyage?
A 2019 report declared the lighthouse a grungy, dangerous mess, with the potential for long-term structural issues. The sea fire's been disused since 1964, and the structure's been a protected monument since 1982.
The report's revelation led to the formation of an expert committee considerin' various options—from natural decay to on-site repairs to relocation. The result, announced in 2023: the tower will be dismantled and then reassembled on land. No specific timeline's been set for the move, the foundation said. Until then, the tower will stay maintained.
[1]: "Old German Lighthouse 'Roter Sand' Will be Moved to safety due to Weather Conditions", Deutsche Presse-Agentur, June 1, 2023[2]: "Roter Sand Lighthouse: Historic Sea Mark Requires Urgent Relocation", The German Foundation for Monument Protection, April 15, 2023
Even the steel industry might lend a hand to relocate the Roter Sand lighthouse, offering their expertise in structural engineering.
Imagine, instead of decorative steel accents enhancing outdoor-living spaces and home-and-garden projects, they're contributing to preserving a piece of maritime history.
