Goodwin light ship, by EW Cooke.

Goodwin light ship.

Repro ID: PV6163

Description: The Goodwin Sands are a notorious stretch of shoals and sandbars off the east coast of Kent. The shifting sands do not allow the construction of lighthouses, so over the years several lightships and numerous buoys have marked the area. Thousands of vessels have run aground on the swirling sands. In 1954 the Goodwin Lightship itself was lost when it broke adrift in 80 mph winds. The sands have an ability to engulf and swallow even the largest ships. Often little is left to tell of the tragedy.

Creator: Edward William Cooke

Date: 19th century

Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London