Lightships, like light buoys and lighthouses, were a vital contribution to the aids to navigation for about one and a half century.

Lightships aided navigation and were anchored in a fixed position at sea. They had a lantern tower, which was equipped with a strong light source, a powerful foghorn and a radio beacon. Lightships had a conspicuous color and shape. They were painted red and the name of the station was displayed in white letters on both sides of the ship. High masts carried the antennas of the radio beacon and the lantern tower.

The name of the lightship referred to the shoal mostly, of which it warned. In other European countries, lightships were used for marking of harbour entrances or river mouths. The position of the lightships was declared on the sea charts. Therefore it was important that the lightships stayed on their stations.

Lightships were fastened with so-called umbrella or mushroom anchors. Taking bearings continuously controlled the anchor position. These were taken with the aid of two so-called watch buoys nearby.

The main task of the personnel of a lightship was providing the maintenance of the light installation and the ship, as well as the giving of warning signals in storm and fog. Furthermore they had to look out for ship accidents.

Among the additional tasks were: The executing of meteorological observations and current examinations, measuring of the wave height and the control of the seawater during oil pollution. The crewmembers of a light ship usually remained on board for a time period of two weeks, they were relieved then and spent two weeks at home.

The bird observations by the lightships supplied interesting information about the habits of the migratory birds. At the lightships lying far outdoors at sea, it frequently happened that migratory birds were atrackted by the light and large flocks settled on deck. The lightships were replaced with unmanned lightships or navigation buoys slowly but surely, because these are much cheaper in purchase, upkeep and maintenance.