Is that a lighthouse or a ship? It is M/S Fladen, a historical Swedish lightship built in 1892. It is moored right here on Skeppsholmen in Stockholm.
Let’s dive into the captivating story of the Fladen. Imagine her being built at Kockums Mekaniska Verkstad in Malmo. The year was 1892. She was crafted from steel and weighed about 308 tons when fully equipped. The Fladen stretched 31.5 meters long and 6.1 meters wide. A crew of eight men operated her. A steam engine powered the Fladen generating 180 horsepower.
The Fladen was a red lightship. She had two masts. The mainmast featured a top ball. “FLADEN” was painted in large white letters on her sides. Her number adorned the stern. She had a flush deck and a short bow. A hoistable lantern surrounded the mainmast.
The red flashing light was visible every 30 seconds. It consisted of a group of four flashes. The lighthouse apparatus used eight parabolic mirrors. Kerosene lamps illuminated these mirrors. The light source stood 9.5 meters above the waterline. It could be seen up to 11 nautical miles away.
During the day, the lighthouse apparatus was stored in a deckhouse at the bow. This protected it from the weather. The lantern was built around the mainmast. It ran in a guide when raised or lowered. G.W. Lyth in Stockholm made the Stevenson-type lantern. It had eight kerosene lamps. These lamps sat in silvered, gimbal-mounted parabolic mirrors. The mirrors were arranged in four groups. Each mirror was 50 cm in diameter. Together, they produced 1,040 Hefner candles of light. A clock and plumb bob powered the mirror-based lighthouse. It created the red flashing light which blinked four times every 30 seconds.
During foggy conditions, the Fladen used sound signals. The mist siren blasted four times per minute. Each blast lasted four seconds. There was a four-second pause between blasts. After the last blast, there was a 32-second pause. If the siren failed, a bell would ring four times quickly every minute. If the ship saw another vessel heading towards a shallow area, it would fire warning shots.
The Fladen underwent modifications over the years. In 1927, a tower with a lantern and lens was installed. A 5th order lens was added. It was gimbal-mounted with a pendulum and equipped with Dalén light. The luminous intensity increased to 3,800 Hefner candles. The light height reached 10.5 meters. Its range remained 11 nautical miles. The light now flashed white every 30 seconds. An underwater bell was also installed.
In 1951, a radiotelephone was added. By 1953, the steam engine was replaced with a 200 hp crude oil engine. Two smaller crude oil engines powered generators. These also powered the compressor for the typhoon. The lighthouse was electrified. The Dalén light was replaced by a 1000 W electric light bulb. The luminous intensity jumped to 27,000 Hefner candles.
In 1957, the Fladen got a circular radio beacon. It operated on a frequency of 408.0 kHz with a range of 10 nm. By 1961, the Fladen lighthouse station had the light character Mo (_ .) W 20 s 11 M. A stationary lens with a light bulb was used. It still produced 27,000 HK of light. The fog signal became a typhoon blasting four times every 60 seconds.
The Fladen served as a lighthouse ship at Fladen from 1892 to 1899. Then, from 1900 to 1929, she was stationed at Grisbådarna. She returned to Fladen from 1930 to 1965.
During World War II, from 1939 to 1946, the Fladen became a base for pilotage operations. This was in northern Bohuslän. Pilots were exchanged for vessels in convoy traffic. This traffic went to and from Gothenburg. Norwegian pilots guided outbound traffic. Swedish pilots took over when the course was set for Gothenburg. Many refugees, mostly Norwegians, found temporary shelter on the Fladen. They stayed here before continuing to Sweden.
In 1967, the Fladen was sold. Before the sale, the lantern and machinery were removed. She was rebuilt as a sports fishing vessel at the Rönnäng shipyard. She operated on both the west and east coasts. The new owners kept the name “Fladen.” She was converted into a floating clothing store. For several summers, she docked in Lysekil and Kungshamn. They sold clothes. The ship also served as a youth disco.
In 1977, the film company Fladen Film bought the ship. In 2013, the current owner acquired the Fladen. Now, she resides at Norra Brobänken on Skeppsholmen in Stockholm.
Today, the Fladen stands as a testament to maritime history. It reminds us of the vital role lightships played in navigation. The Fladen ensures the safety of countless sailors. She guided them through treacherous waters. She now welcomes us to step aboard and learn about her past. She is a floating museum. The Fladen offers a unique glimpse into Sweden’s seafaring heritage.