Lighthouses of Indonesia: Riau Islands

Indonesia has been independent since 1945, after having been the Dutch East Indies for more than 350 years. It is a huge country, stretching along both sides of the Equator for more than 46 degrees of longitude (roughly 5100 km or 3200 miles). Comprised of some 17,000 islands (more than 6000 inhabited islands), it has hundreds of major aids to navigation. Unfortunately, we have no idea how many of these aids can be considered lighthouses. Information about them is scarce, and photos are even scarcer. Official light lists contain dozens of entries for "framework towers" and "white beacons," providing little guidance for the lighthouse fan. Indonesia's Riau Islands Province includes four groups of small islands located between Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo). The Riau group is south of Singapore and off the east coast of Sumatra; the Lingga group is farther south, straddling the Equator in the Karimata Strait; the Anambas group is in the South China Sea off the east coast of West Malaysia; and the Natuna group is also in the South China Sea northwest of Sarawak in East Malaysia. In all there are more than 3000 islands in the province. This page is not complete. Listed here are towers at locations known to be historic Dutch light stations, plus some additional sites at which there is some evidence for a lighthouse. Added to this is an appeal for more information and photos; if you know about lighthouses in Indonesia, please share that knowledge. The Indonesian word for a lighthouse is mercusuar. The phrase menara suar, which includes the Arabic word menara, is sometimes used instead. Tanjung and ujung are words for capes, pulau is an island, selat is a strait, and teluk is a harbor. Aids to navigation in Indonesia are operated and maintained by the Indonesian Directorate of Marine Navigation (Indomarinav). ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

Takong Kecil Light, Singapore Strait, July 1999 photo copyright Jürgen Klinksiek; used by permission

General Sources
Garis Depan Nusantara - Kepulauan Riau

Information on Indonesia's "border islands" in the Riau archipelago.

KITLV Beeldbank

Historic photos from the collection of the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies.

Singapore Strait Lighthouses (see also Singapore)

Pulau Iyu Kecil (The Brothers) (2)

Date unknown (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. A closer view is available. NGA lists a skeletal tower at this location. Located on an island at the western entrance to the Singapore Strait, about 8 km (5 mi) north of the northern tip of Pulau Karimun. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1674; NGA 22584.

Pulau Nipah (Nipa Reef) (2)

Date unknown (station established 1912). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white. Feybe Lumanauw has a closeup photo. The original light had a focal plane of 11 m (36 ft). Located on a dangerous reef about 10 km (6 mi) west of Singapore's famous Raffles Lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1692; NGA 21492.

Takong Kecil (Pulau Takong Kecil) (2) Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 30 m (98 ft) tapered octagonal aluminum tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Jürgen Klinksiek's photo is above, and Wikipedia has a distant view. Although it is located in Indonesian waters, this lighthouse is maintained by Singapore, which is responsible under international agreements for safeguarding and regulating navigation of the Singapore Strait. It was apparently built sometime shortly after World War II. The lighthouse was rebuilt in 1998 and its height may have been increased at that time. Located on a small island in the strait about 7 km (4.5 mi) southwest of Singapore's famous Raffles Lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F1694; NGA 21480. Pulau Nongsa Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 8 s. Approx. 37 m (121 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Pulau Nongsa is an islet on the south side of the Singapore Strait about 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Singapore city. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS IDO-049; Admiralty F1697.99; NGA 21462. Batu Berhanti Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 16.5 m (54 ft);white flash every 8 s. 16.5 m (54 ft) square pyramidal concrete tower, mounted on a square concrete pier. Jürgen Klinksiek's photo is at right. The original light had a focal plane of 12 m (39 ft). Located on a shoal in the center of Singapore Strait, about 10 km (6 mi) south of downtown Singapore. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F1696; NGA 21400.

Batu Berhanti Light, 2002 photo copyright Jürgen Klinksiek; used by permission

Tanjung Berakit

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. This lighthouse marks the south side of the eastern entrance to Singapore Strait from the South China Sea. Located on the northern tip of Pulau Bintan, near the village of Berakit. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1812; NGA 21176.

Southern Riau Archipelago Lighthouses

Merapas

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 121 m (397 ft); three white flashes every 5 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. Located on an isolated island in the South China Sea about 25 km (15 mi) east of Pulau Bintan and 55 km (35 mi) southeast of Tanjung Berakit. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-168; Admiralty F1809; NGA 22694.

Tanjung Rambut

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); three white flashes every 22 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. This lighthouse is located near the city of Tanjungbalai on Karimun, an island at the southwestern end of Singapore Strait. Located on the southeastern tip of the island; there should be a good view from fast ferries connecting Tanjungbalai with Singapore. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-323; Admiralty F1417.5; NGA 22588.

Jangkat

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white flash every 5 s. 30 m (98 ft) "white pyramidal tower," according to NGA. This might describe a tower similar to the Takong Kecil Light. No photo available. Located on an islet about 25 km (15 mi) east of Tanjung Rambut. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1694.6; NGA 22592.

Rukan Selatan (South Brother Island)

1911. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white flash every 5 s. 22 m (72 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No current photo available. This light guides vessels northbound toward Singapore as they approach the Riau Islands. Located on a small island at the southern edge of the Riau group, about 20 km (13 mi) east of Tanjungkilang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-266; Admiralty F1428; NGA 22612.

Lingga Islands Lighthouse

Pulau Kentar (2) Date unknown (station established 1919). Active; focal plane 122 m (400 ft); two long (2 s) white flashes every 10 s. 32 m (105 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. This light stands only 3.5 km (2.2 mi) north of the Equator. Located on a small island on the eastern edge of the Linga group, in the Karimata Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-207; Admiralty F1438; NGA 22696. Pulau Lingga 1897. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); white flash every 19 s. 10 m (33 ft) iron skeletal tower, painted white. No current photo available, but KITLV has a 1913 photo that shows a lighthouse meeting the current description, and Google's satellite view is consistent with the photo. Located on Tanjung Djang, the southwestern tip of Pulau Lingga, the largest island of the group. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-215; Admiralty K0954; NGA 22708. * Dabo Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a concrete platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is at right. Dabo is the principal port of Pulau Singkep, the second largest island of the Lingga group. Located adjacent to the jetty at Dabo, on the east coast of Singkep. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K0958; NGA 22712.

Dabo Light; Municipality of Dabo photo

Pulau Berhala

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light, 5 s on, 10 s off. 21 m (69 ft) cast iron skeletal tower, painted white. Tajri Dannur has a photo. Note: Berhala is a common place name in this area. There is another Pulau Berhala off northern Sumatra, and another off the coast of Sabah in East Malaysia. Jurisdiction over this Pulau Berhala is disputed between the Riau Islands province and the province of Jambi on the mainland of Sumatra. Located on a small island in the middle of the Berhala Strait, which separates the Linga Islands from the Sumatran mainland. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-111; Admiralty K0976; NGA 22728.

Pulau Muci (Mutji)

Date unknown (station established 1914). Active; focal plane 67 m (220 m); continuous white light. 21 m (69 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No current photo available. KITLV has a 1914 photo of a lighthouse, captioned as being on Singkep, that is believed to be a photo of this light. (There was no lighthouse on Singkep in 1914.) Located on a small island about 10 km (6 mi) west of Tanjung Sebayur on the west coast of Singkep. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty K0980; NGA 22724.

Anambas Islands Lighthouses

Malang Biru (Tokong Malangbiru) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 4 s. The original (?) lighthouse here is a tapered octagonal cancrete or masonry tower with gallery. The upper half was painted white and the lower half black. Another photo and a third photo are available. In the photos, the lighthouse appears abandoned, but there is no sign of a more recent light. NGA describes the current light only as a "white beacon." Malang Biru is an isolated rock about 65 km (40 mi) south southwest of the main Anambas group and 175 km (110 mi) northeast of Singapore Strait. Scuba diving tours to the island are available from Singapore. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1831; NGA 21097.5. Pulau Mangkai Date unknown. Active; focal plane 196 m (343 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 40 m (131 ft) iron skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. Pulau Mangkai is the westernmost island of the Anambas group and is an important landmark for vessels bound to or from Singapore. However, there have been reports of pirate activity in the vicinity. The mountainous island is about 6 km (3.5 mi) in length. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1832; NGA 21096. Tanjung Pedas Date unknown. Active; focal plane 82 m (269 ft); white flash every 4 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. This lighthouses guides vessels to Terempah, the principal town of the islands. Located at the northwestern tip of Siantan, one of the major islands of the Anambas group. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1835; NGA 21117. Pulau Tokong Nanas 2006. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is at right, and a distant view from the sea is available. Located on a rocky reef about 25 km (15 mi) northwest of Tanjung Pedas. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1835.5. Pulau Tokong Belayer 2006. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is available. Located on a rocky reef at the northern tip of the Anambas archipelago. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1835.8.

Pulau Tokong Nanas Light anonymous Creative Commons photo posted by Garis Depan Nusantara

Natuna Islands Lighthouses

Sekatung (Sekatoeng) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 98 m (322 ft); white light occulting once every 3 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Several 1-story keeper's houses or other station buildings. A photo is at right, and another 2008 photo is available. This light marks the northernmost point of the Natuna group; it is Indonesia's northernmost light in the South China Sea. Located on a small island about 120 km (75 mi) north of Natuna Besar (Great Natuna). Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.5; NGA 21112. Semium Date unknown. Active; focal plane 160 m (525 ft); white flash every 5 s. Described by NGA as a "white lighthouse"; no other information available. Located atop a small high island about 80 km (50 mi) northwest of the northern point of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.6; NGA 21114. Pulau Sebetul 2006. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. Located on a rocky reef off the southwestern tip of Pulau Semium. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1836.55. Pulau Tokong Boro (Tokongboro) 2006. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is below, and additional photos are available (photos 1, 2, 4, and 5 on the page). Located on a rocky reef about 55 km (35 mi) west of Natuna Besar. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1836.9.

Sekatung Light, September 2008 Creative Commons photo by Deni Sambas

Pulau Senua 2006. Active; focal plane about 46 m (151 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. The lighthouse appears at the far right in a distant view of the island. Located on an island about 7 km (4 mi) north northeast of Tanjung Senubing, off the east coast of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.65. Tanjung Senubing (Senoebing) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 106 m (348 ft); white flash every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. Located on the easternmost point of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.7; NGA 21108. Selat Lampa (Lampa Strait) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); green flash every 9 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted green. No photo available. Lampa, at the southern end of Natuna Besar (Great Natuna), is the principal port of the Natuna Islands. Located on the west side of the harbor entrance. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1837.75; NGA 21104.7. Pulau Midai Date unknown. Active; focal plane 158 m (518 ft); white flash every 20 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. Pulau Midai is an isolated high island in the South Natuna group about 130 km (80 mi) southwest of Natuna Besar. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1838; NGA 21100. Pulau Subi Kecil (Subi-kechil) Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 83 m (272 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 22 m (72 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available. Pulau Subi Kecil is a small island in the South Natuna group, just north of Sub Besar and about 130 km (80 mi) southeast of Natuna Besar. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-182; Admiralty F1844; NGA 25108. Pulau Kepala 2006. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 40 m (131 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a 2-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. The station is staffed by 3 keepers. Located on Pulau Kepala (Coconut Island), a small island in the South Natuna group, about 160 km (100 mi) southeast of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1846.

Tokong Boro Light, September 2008 anonymous Creative Commons photo posted