The Ambrose Light-tower is situated in 70 feet of water 7.4 miles east of
Sandy Hook. The former tower went into operation August 23, 1967. It was made of
prefabricated sections that were floated to the site on barges from
Norfolk, Virginia. The Texas-tower structure was supported by a framework
of four 42 inch diameter steel pipe legs. Cross braced with 18 and 20 inch
diameter steel pipes the structure was designed to withstand even the worst
hurricane.
The station had cost 2.4 million dollars to build. The platform was two decks
high. The lower deck housed the fuel and water tanks. The upper deck
provided living quarters for the 6 permanently assigned Coast Guard members
and had room for 3 transient members. Four crew members were on duty at
all times. Crew menbers served two weeks on the platform before getting a
week off. The roof of the platform served also as a heliport.
The main light tower jutted from the southeast corner of the platform roof.
The focal plane of the light was about 136 feet above mean low water. The
10,000,000 candle-power light could be seen about 18 miles. The
characteristic of the light was white group-flashing, with three flashes
every seven and half seconds.
The crew was permanently removed from the station on March 15, 1988.
This new Ambrose light replaced the 1967 Texas tower lighthouse heavily damaged by a
collision with the oil tanker Aegeo in October 1996. The new tower was
itself damaged in a collision with the freighter Kouros V in January 2001,
but it was repaired and remains in service. The light-tower is now
controlled electronically from the Coast Guard station on Governor's
Island.
Location: New York Bay
Visiting Status: Closed to the Public; Maintained by Coast Guard
Information: N/A
Light Operational: Yes
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1988
Tower Height:
Present Optic:
