#Lighthouses - A workboat operating from Dun Laoghaire Harbour which was used to assist the Commissioners of Irish Lights has completed duties offshore at the Kish Lighthouse, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Westport registered workboat, James, Afloat spotted since the summer has in recent weeks returned to Dun Laoghaire to complete the refurbishment of the Kish Bank Lighthouse, which through a public tender procurement application was contracted to Cunningham Civil & Marine.  

In order to carry out refurbishment of the lighthouse exterior which involved dismantling, fabricating and erecting a new helipad, Cunningham Civil engaged the services of O'Malley Marine Plant Ltd, by hiring from the newly formed company their landing craft workboat James. The craft during the project was based out of Dun Laoghaire Harbour at the Irish Lights depot. 

Afloat can also reveal the works saw the removal of the disused crane equipment from the 31m high structure. This is where lighthouse keepers worked and were accommodated until automation took over in 1992. 

Cunningham Civil as consultants engaged in the project, followed a major structural review of the Kish Lighthouse in 2015 (50th anniversary, see Afloat coverage). The review found the tower to be structurally sound but made a number of recommendations among them metal fixtures such as the helipad and the crane. 

The Kish Lighthouse became operational in 1965 and currently has a range of 22 nautical miles.

On completion of the installation of the tower this replaced a lightship stationed on the Kish Bank. Previous lightships can be traced back to 1811 when the first light was exhibited to provide a navigation mark to shipping using the Port of Dublin and to passing traffic.