Grundkallen
Encyclopedia
Grundkallen is a Swedish lighthouse
on a shallow of the same name in the southern part of the Gulf of Bothnia
, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Öregrund
. The current 34 metres (111.5 ft) lighthouse was built in 1961 to replace a lightship
in the same location. It is a round concrete tower with a helipad on top and a round two-storey crew quarters in the bottom, both painted red, mounted on a round caisson
which is painted black. The lighthouse, owned by the Swedish Maritime Administration
, is automated and unmanned.
pusher-barge combination Herakles-Bulk
sank near the Grundkallen lighthouse. The combination had left Oxelösund two days earlier and was heading north with the barge fully laden with coal. On 2 March she ran into a storm and the captain, not certain if the vessel could be safely turned around in such conditions to seek shelter closer to the coast, decided to evacuate half of the crew by helicopter. When the port engine began overheating and later the starboard engine lost all power, the combination was no longer able to keep the bow into the wind and began to drift uncontrollably in the storm. The remaining crew was soon evacuated and shortly afterwards Herakles-Bulk collided with the lighthouse, causing superficial damage, and foundered in the nearby shallows.
The 159-metre barge broke in two and an approximately 95 metres long section settled in the bottom on an even keel only tens of metres from the lighthouse. Part of the side structure and a ramp protrude above the surface. Another section, approximately 60 metres long, is located about 300 metres south-southeast from the lighthouse, with the forecastle of the barge protruding in an oblique angle above the surface. The wrecks do not pose a hazard to navigation.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
on a shallow of the same name in the southern part of the Gulf of Bothnia
Gulf of Bothnia
The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It is situated between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. In the south of the gulf lie the Åland Islands, between the Sea of Åland and the Archipelago Sea.-Name:...
, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Öregrund
Öregrund
Öregrund is a locality situated in Östhammar Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 1,555 inhabitants in 2010. It is located by the coast of the Baltic Sea. Öregrund is, despite its small population, for historical reasons often still referred to as a city.- History :The town was granted a royal...
. The current 34 metres (111.5 ft) lighthouse was built in 1961 to replace a lightship
Lightvessel
A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
in the same location. It is a round concrete tower with a helipad on top and a round two-storey crew quarters in the bottom, both painted red, mounted on a round caisson
Caisson (engineering)
In geotechnical engineering, a caisson is a retaining, watertight structure used, for example, to work on the foundations of a bridge pier, for the construction of a concrete dam, or for the repair of ships. These are constructed such that the water can be pumped out, keeping the working...
which is painted black. The lighthouse, owned by the Swedish Maritime Administration
Swedish Maritime Administration
The Swedish Maritime Administration is the Swedish government agency which provides services to the transport sector by keeping the sea lanes open and safe...
, is automated and unmanned.
The wreck of Herakles-Bulk
On 3 March 2004 at around 00:30 (UTC+02) a FinnishFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
pusher-barge combination Herakles-Bulk
Herakles (pusher)
Herakles was a pusher vessel owned by Finnish towing and marine salvage company Alfons Håkans Oy Ab. The ship, originally built as salvage tug Into in 1967, was converted to a pusher in 1991 to be chartered to Rautaruukki Oyj and later ESL Shipping Ltd as the third pusher vessel for Finnpusku, a...
sank near the Grundkallen lighthouse. The combination had left Oxelösund two days earlier and was heading north with the barge fully laden with coal. On 2 March she ran into a storm and the captain, not certain if the vessel could be safely turned around in such conditions to seek shelter closer to the coast, decided to evacuate half of the crew by helicopter. When the port engine began overheating and later the starboard engine lost all power, the combination was no longer able to keep the bow into the wind and began to drift uncontrollably in the storm. The remaining crew was soon evacuated and shortly afterwards Herakles-Bulk collided with the lighthouse, causing superficial damage, and foundered in the nearby shallows.
The 159-metre barge broke in two and an approximately 95 metres long section settled in the bottom on an even keel only tens of metres from the lighthouse. Part of the side structure and a ramp protrude above the surface. Another section, approximately 60 metres long, is located about 300 metres south-southeast from the lighthouse, with the forecastle of the barge protruding in an oblique angle above the surface. The wrecks do not pose a hazard to navigation.