The low lying reef is located some 3 miles North West of Papa Stour off the west coast of Shetland. The Ve Skerries Ligthouse was built during the summer of 1979. Work started on 28 May 1979 and the light was first lit on 27 September 1979 replacing the lighted buoy which had marked this position previously. The structure of the tower is founded on the rock surface but is anchored to the rock mass by 18 post-tensioned bars 40mm diameter into two rings. The outer ring contains 12 bars which are anchored 5 metres into the rock and the inner ring has 6 bars anchored 3 metres into the rock. Each bar is stressed to a load of 92 tonnes. The light is powered by batteries which are replaced annually and the lantern is glazed with a polycarbonate sheet called Lexan. There is a helicopter pad situated on the rock near the tower. The lighthouse vessel NLV PHAROS visits the Ve Skerries once a year, usually in June. Although in a very exposed situation no damage to the structure has been reported to date.
Emergency To report any defects or damage to any of our aids to navigation please telephone our 24 hour freephone emergency number 08000 326655.