The Chief Mate´s Shop

Storage space for lighthouse gear.

This room was known as the Chief Mate´s Shop. Equipment and spare parts for the automated lighthouses and beacons were stored here. It was the mate, aka the first officer, who was in charge of the maintenance and adjustment of the lights. Sector adjustment ensured that the light shone in its own characteristic manner, and these characteristics were drawn onto the sea chart.

The Chief mate was also in charge of the transportation of paraffin and gas to both manned and automated lighthouses. Without fuel, the lights would stop working.

The Chief mate had to adjust the lens so that it shone in the proper direction. The various directions were referred to as sectors. Sectors would shine either red, green or white. The white sector showed where it was safe to sail.

The Gamle Oksøy was taken out of active service in the same year.

Automated lighthouses could be based on different sources of light: paraffin, gas or electricity. In his shop, the Chief mate had spare parts and equipment for all the different types of lights: oil and gas burners, wicks, a variety of glass and lenses and all the various types of light bulbs.

The MT Oksøy unloaded its final supply of paraffin in 1996. Since then, all Norwegian automated lighthouses have been run on electricity, either from land, by battery or with the help of solar panels.