Historic lighthouses represent an important part of the world’s maritime heritage while continuing to play a vital role in modern navigation. Upgrading these structures with LED technology often requires finding the right balance between improving performance and preserving the existing optical systems that define their original operation.
This approach has recently been implemented at Cove Point Lighthouse (Maryland, USA), where the U.S. Coast Guard has installed an MSM Polaris 3 LED lamp as part of the lighthouse lighting upgrade.
Located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Cove Point Lighthouse has guided vessels navigating one of the busiest maritime corridors on the U.S. East Coast since the nineteenth century. Today, it continues to support the safe transit of commercial ships, coastal traffic and recreational vessels while remaining an important part of the country’s maritime heritage.
Designed as a direct replacement for high-power halogen lamps of up to 650 W, the Polaris 3 enables lighthouse authorities to transition to LED technology without replacing the existing optic. Compatible with both horizon and rotating optical systems, it provides a straightforward upgrade path while preserving the optical characteristics of the lighthouse.
The lamp delivers high luminous performance through an ultra-bright LED light source with 360° horizontal emission and an operational lifetime exceeding 100,000 hours. Its external LED regulator incorporates protection against reverse polarity, overvoltage and overcurrent, while the integrated cooling system and IP55-rated construction ensure reliable operation in demanding marine environments.
The installation at Cove Point Lighthouse demonstrates how historic lighthouse infrastructure can benefit from modern LED technology without compromising the optical systems that have guided mariners for generations.
The Polaris 3 forms part of the Polaris Series, MSM’s family of LED lighthouse lamps developed for the modernisation of historic lighthouses and other marine aids to navigation. Designed in accordance with IALA Recommendations and available in three models, the series provides lighthouse authorities with an efficient and reliable solution for extending the operational life of existing lighthouse installations while preserving their optical heritage.
