Lightship 16

In January 1953 Trinity House placed an order with Philip & Son Ltd. of Dartmouth for two identical lightships, which would become numbers 16 and 17. Number 16 was launched on July 7th 1954 and was handed over to Trinity House on October 1st of the same year. She first served at Shambles, later going on to Varne, Royal Sovereign, and then South Goodwin, where she sustained some damage in June 1960. Later 16 also served at Newarp, where she was damaged in a collision in December 1977. Her last station prior to decommissioning was Haisbro, where she was placed in 1986.

In the late 70s or very early 80s the vessel was adapted for helicopter crew reliefs with the removal of the rear mast and addition of a helicopter deck. With the days of manned lightships coming to an end, Lightship 16 was withdrawn from service in 1988.

In 1990 a sea cadet unit in Colchester purchased the ship, under the ownership of which she has become known as T.S Colne. Commissioned by the Duke of York in 1991, the lightship still fulfills it's role as a Training Ship today. The ship has been kept in good condition, and whilst some of it's paint may be faded, it is well maintained and retains many original features, including it's original electric lighting apparatus and the conical lantern roof.

If you wish to visit T.S Colne, you can find her moored alongside King Edward Quay, just south of Haven Bridge, in Colchester.