![]() ![]() “Rescue ships usually came after three days,” he said. There was only silence everywhere I went, and that’s something I had to enjoy,” he said.Īccording to Heriyanto, falling ill was a problem as most lighthouse keepers tended to rely on traditional medicines. “The lighthouse was built in the Dutch era and is located in the middle of nowhere. It would take him 22 hours by boat to reach the island. He remembered that the farthest place he ever worked at was on Saint Petrus Island on the border of Kalimantan. Read also: 2,000 foreign cruise passengers arrive in Bintan, RiauĪ solitary life is something Heriyanto is accustomed to. “It can signal in three languages – Indonesian, Japanese and English – to ships that are off course,” Heriyanto said. ![]() ![]() ![]() The lighthouse can also guide any nearby ship to its rightful course. “Every ship is equipped with lighthouse codes, so when they see one, they know where they’re at,” Heriyanto said.Īlong with the improving technology, diesel fuel had been replaced by solar cells to power the light in the tower. The lights emitting from the tower are unique, acting as a distinct code for the island and informing ships where they are. Lights of the Putri Island lighthouse are on from 6 p.m. As such, the top deck of the lighthouse tower is off limits to all visitors for security reasons. Heriyanto said that, on uninhabited islands, the keepers would stay in separate large houses assigned to them, often equipped with farming fields to keep them occupied during leisure time.Īfter all, he said, “Our main job is to make sure the lighthouse works accordingly.”Īll lighthouse keepers are also required to be able to recognize any kind of flag or light signaled by a ship. Perhaps they have gotten used to the solitude, or perhaps it is in their nature to work in an isolated place where interactions are kept to a minimum. Not that many people wish to work in a lighthouse,” he said. He goes home every three months, taking turns manning the lighthouse with his colleagues.Ī lighthouse usually had three to five officers, he said, but the number had decreased over time. Heriyanto’s three daughters live in Tanjungpinang, Riau, with his wife. “All goes directly to my wife and kids,” he said, adding that he and his family lived separately as it would be difficult for him to raise a family and send his children to schools on remote islands. Now, he receives Rp 3 million plus an additional Rp 4 million performance allowance. His first salary was Rp 25,000 (US$1.75) per month. The position is for a two-year term, so be sure you can get along with your partner that long before applying.In total, Heriyanto has lived on 24 remote islands as a lighthouse keeper. So if you thought board would come with the room, keep in mind yours will come out of the profits. After all expenses are paid for both the lighthouse maintenance and the business, the two keepers split what is left. So you can see that the job comes with none of the solitude that the title of lighthouse keeper normally implies. Guests pay $475 to $525 a night to stay in one of the tiny island's five guest rooms. You see, East Brother Light Station became a bed & breakfast (with supper) in order to pay for its own maintenance and preservation. Innkeepers must assume the role of maid, boat captain, gift shop attendant, tour guide, host and chef with “high-quality culinary experience” to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner.Īdditionally, at least one of the innkeepers must have a Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential boat operator’s license, in order to safely ferry guests You also get health benefits and two weeks paid vacation. The salary is variable, but the last couple who held this position split $140,000 for a year. If you've dreamed about becoming a lighthouse keeper, this opportunity comes with living quarters overlooking both San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay, which is worth more than most jobs pay in itself. A unique job opening for two people has been posted by East Brother Light Station in California. ![]()
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