UPDATE: The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has been fixed after being examined on Monday morning by the U.S. Coast Guard.
U.S. Coast Guard Electrician’s Mate 1st Class James Harper identified that the issue stemmed from a blown fuse, and made the appropriate replacement. The lighthouse should be rotating once again starting Monday evening, per the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
The beacon at the top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has stopped rotating, and has been stuck in a fixed position since Sunday night, according to several Buxton residents and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Michael Barber, Public Affairs Specialist for the National Parks of Eastern N.C., reported that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) started receiving reports on Sunday night that the lighthouse had stopped rotating, and that a representative from the U.S. Coast Guard was examining the potential issue on Monday morning.
Though the lighthouse itself is managed by the National Park Service, the light within the structure is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, which is responsible for the repairs.
The lighthouse has gotten “stuck” in a stationary position before, most recently in May of 2019. In 2018, the light was disabled for roughly a month due to damage from a wave of winter storms, and the need for a replacement part to be built from scratch.
The Island Free Press will continue to post updates on the lighthouse repairs as soon as they are available.
