To celebrate the work of contemporary Irish visual artist, the Irish Post issued on 25 April 2013 a set of four stamps of which one is important for the ship stamp collector a decommissioned lightship that was painted by Dorothy Cross with luminous paint so that it would appear and disappear-like the lights of a lightship themselves. The former lightship was the ALBATROSS
Built as an iron hulled with steel frames lightship under yard No30 by H.Robb Ltd. Leith, Scotland for the Commissioners of Irish Lights in Dublin.
1924 launched as the ALBATROSS.
Tonnage?, dim. 31.09 x 7.31 x 4m. (draught)
Not an engine built in only auxiliary engines for the lights.
Fitted out with a steel mast for the fixed lantern, the mizzen mast carried a daymark
1924/25 Completed building cost £15,650.
She was used as lightship for 45 years in the waters around the Irish coast.
1970 Decommissioned and sold to the Scout Commissions.
By the Scouts used as training centre moored in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
Used by the Scouts for 16 years and when the cost of upkeep and service was climbing, all had brought to the ship by launch it was decided to close her.
In 1999 was she discover by the artist Dorothy Cross by a Dublin Dockyard, then she was painted in a luminous green for an arts festival for the project Ghost Ship.
After the festival the hull was painted black and issued for the movie Reign of Fire.
2000 Bought by James Tyrell of Arklow, Ireland her lantern removed and placed on the North Quay in Arklow. The ALBATROSS was taken back to Dublin where she berthed on the entrance of Grand Canal Basin.
She was later towed to the River Medway where she will converted in a Bed & Breakfast, but I think the plan fell true.
2014 The latest news is that she was for sale by Premier Houseboat Ltd.asking price £50.000
http://www.wanttoliveafloat.com/boats-f ... rettyPhoto
Ireland 2013 60c sg?, scott?
Source: http://www.feuerschiffseite.de
http://www.leithshipyards.com/ships-bui ... uilt-.html
Irish Post info magazine.