In 1782, the lighthouse privilege ran out for Marjorie Lawrie and the Chrystie family. A new privilege was not announced, and the King decided that the State would take over.
Marjorie Lawrie presented a thorough description of the lighthouse station operation.
A lighthouse inspector was appointed, and it was Andreas Mølbach, Marjorie Lawrie´s son-in-law. Mølbach may have thought that the lighthouses would operate as before, and an inspector could live elsewhere. The State, however, demanded that he live in the area.
According to directives, the house of the lighthouse inspector was placed on the Selhovden Island. From there, Mølbach would be able to inspect both lighthouses and their flames daily.
The Royal Lighthouse Inspector was given strict instructions from the State. He was to be personally responsible for the upkeep of the fires and lights, and he was to…:
”Frequently be rowed at night across the water to the lighthouses
to oversee that all was in order and done properly.
In so doing, the lighthouse keepers will be
in constant fear of his arrival…”
At Selhovden, a signal cannon was put in place. This would wake up the lighthouse keepers when the weather did not allow the crossing by boat.
Andreas Mølbach had a short career as Norway’s first Royal Lighthouse Inspector. In 1784, his wife died, followed by his brother-in-law disappearing at sea. Then he fell ill and died in November that same year.
After the death of Mølbach, Jacob Fabricius became the lighthouse inspector, and Carl Fors stepped in twice as a substitute.
Weathered, barren and godforsaken places
In connection with the State taking over the lighthouse operations, The Honorable County commissioner Peter Holm arrived to make an appraisal and inspect the stations.
In his words the Naize and Markøy were weathered, barren and godforsaken places:
”It is at great risk to build between rocks and stones at between 50 to 70 favner. It is my experience, that there is hardly a human being that upon arrival can climb hand and foot without help when I alone had to be carried up by 2 men and with great difficulty down again the same way… ”