Pandiyan Tivu Lighthouse is the main Lighthouse for the Port of Tutikkodi (Tuticorin) on the Western side of the Gulf of Mannar. There are number of islets/reefs in the region. Tivu is the Tamil version of Sanskrit ‘Dweep’ (Island). Pandiyan Tivu an island earlier, was known as Hare Island. It is connected to the main land by an all weather road after reclamation. The Lighthouse is situated on the northern end of Pandiyan Tivu that is about 4.5 km from the town of Tutikkodi.
The port of Tuticorin (Tutikkodi) has been an important commercial centre since the late 18th century. The steamers from this port sailed up to Calcutta, Madras, Colombo, Bombay, Bhavnagar and Karachi. A conventional wick lamp-light burning on vegetable oil, in a 6th order optic was being exhibited from a flag post since the year 1845. Subsequently a masonry column replaced the mast. The system continued till 1905 when the column was improved and its height was increased to 28 feet. A wick lamp burning the mineral oil inside 4th order drum optic was placed on the column.
As the traffic at the port increased, the demand to improve the lighthouse came. In 1930-35 a tower of 30 m height was constructed and a flashing PV lighting equipment supplied by M/s. Chance Bros., Birmingham was installed on it. Subsequently when the electricity mains supply was extended to the Lighthouse towards 1970’s it was decided to provide an electrically operated Lighthouse. The present Reinforced concrete Tower 45m high was completed in December 1979 over which the equipment supplied by M/s. J. Stone & Co. (India) was installed and commissioned on 28th April 1980. A Racon emitting code ‘O’ has been provided separately in the port area. The DGPS equipment to be installed at the station shortly. |
