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SINGAPORE: In spite of technological advances, lighthouses are still crucial in ensuring navigational safety, said Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority.
The agency operates five lighthouses such as the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pedra Branca and Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu.
Raffles Lighthouse lies 15 kilometres southwest of Singapore on a restricted island, a 45-minute boat ride from Marina Pier.
Singapore has been operating it since 1855, making it the second oldest lighthouse after Horsburgh on Pedra Branca.
And it is people like 54-year-old Gaharudin Abdul Ghani who keep it going. He has been working as a lighthouse keeper for 30 years.
He said: "You give me work on the main island, I don't want because I like this place. It is very quiet here and I can go fishing."
And while it may not be apparent, the job has its stresses.
Another lighthouse keeper, Utra Vengkidasalan, said: "We have to watch all the time if the light is active or not. If the light is not activated, we have to call our port operations to inform them the light is not working so they will broadcast to all the vessels."
A miniature model of Raffles Lighthouse will be on show from Oct 17 to 19 at the first maritime exhibition for the public at Vivocity in conjunction with Singapore Maritime Week. Visitors can also see older maritime equipment.
Parry Oei, chief hydrographer, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, said: "Most of the lighthouses are actually offshore, so accessibility is a problem.
"So with this exhibition, the public will be able to see some of the everyday life, past as well as present and see the technological changes in the lighthouse technology.
"Hopefully, (the exhibition) will encourage the next generation to carry on our long history of maritime heritage." - CNA/vm
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