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U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Joe Cocking knows his lenses, maybe better than anyone. He’s been working on lighthouses for three decades, and has been in charge of several major Fresnel lens restorations including the overhaul of first order lenses at Heceta Head in Oregon and St. Augustine in Florida.
In August, CWO Cocking and Senior Chief Petty Officer Todd Whitney of U.S. Coast Guard Group Mayport (Florida) conducted a survey of Maine’s eight active classical Fresnel lenses from Cape Neddick “Nubble” Lighthouse all the way up to the easternmost lighthouse in the nation at West Quoddy Head. This group includes Maine’s only active first order lens at Seguin Island. Also included in the survey was the fourth order lens at New Hampshire’s Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse.
According to Cocking, this inspection of lenses in the First Coast Guard District was done with these goals in mind: “To look at the overall condition of the lenses, to check the stability of the lenses, to look for any deterioration and propose recommended solutions to these problems, and to look for anything that might be having an adverse affect on the lenses.” A detailed report will be provided to the district, and there are plans to inspect more lenses as scheduling permits.
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