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Pulau Pisang Lighthouse
Malaysia
The Pulau Pisang Lighthouse (Malay Rumah Api Pulau Pisang) is located on the highest point of Pulau Pisang (also known as Banana Island) in the Strait of Malacca some 15km from Pontian Kechil, Johor Malaysia.
The island belings to Johor but is operated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. This may in some way explain the large time difference between the lens entering Chance Brothers orders list in 1885 and not being commissioned until 1914 unless another lighthouse had been built previously however I have found no information about that happening.
The lighthouse is a navigational aid to shipping entering the western entrance of the Singapore Strait, an extremely busy route.
The light is operated by MPA due to an agreement made in 1900 between Sultan Ibrahim of Johor and Sir James Alexandra Sweethenham who was the Governor of the Straits Settlements. The agreement stated that the island belonged to Johor while the British Government of Singapore had the rights to the plot of land on which the lighthouse was built and the road leading to it.
When Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965 Malaysia took over the island whilst the management of the lighthouse remains with Singapore.
Since 2002 to maintain sovereignty over the island by Malaysia lighthouse keepers from MPA have to clear Malaysia's customs at Kukup in Johor before heading onto shift at the lighthouse.
Looking at recent photographs it appears the original lens is not now in situ and has been removed.
| Manufacture Date | 1885 |
|---|---|
| Lighthouse Construction | 1914 |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Commissioning Body | Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore |
| Lens Order | Holophotal Revolving Lights. |
| Lens Type | Revolving |
| Status | publish |
| Light Character | Fl W 10s |
| Lighthouse Markings | 16 metre high circular cast iron tower with balcony, lantern and single storey keepers house at the base. |
| Lighthouse Parts | None known. |
| Management Body Ports Authority | MPA |
| Preserver | MPA |
| Coastal Erosion Vulnerability | |
| Condition Observations | Recent photos seem to show the lighthouse in a good state of repair. |
| Open Status (Site) | Closed |
| Open Status (Tower) | Closed |
| Coordinates | 1.4692858408,103.2559971646 |
| Other | There is much written about the agreements between Singapore and Malaysia but considerably less about the lighthouse itself! The island can only be reached by boat and there are no commercial ferries operating to the island. The lighthouse keepers work 10 days at a time, taking all their food snd water on to the island with them. They are normally the only inhabitants on the island. ARLHS WMA-010; Admiralty F1668; NGA 21692. |