The Old Port Said Lighthouse

The “Old Port Said Lighthouse” was built on a base near the inner end of the western breakwater of the Canal, surrounded by massive stones to ward off waves from all directions upon its opening. It still retains its original layout despite the additions made to it. The lighthouse tower and its annexes overlook Port Said harbor with its main facade facing east, on Palestine Street (formerly Sultan Hussein Street).

The lighthouse is considered a unique example of 19th-century architecture in Port Said. It was established during the reign of Khedive Ismail in June 1869, began actual operation in February 1870, and ceased operation in 1997.

Dr. Mohamed Shagar, who has been interested in the history and heritage of Port Said for more than two decades, told “Bab Masr – Bahari”: “From the very first moment of digging the Suez Canal waterway, specifically on April 25, 1859, the French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps had a clear vision of the importance of a lighthouse in Port Said to guide ships and facilitate navigation. He began by directing the construction of a primitive wooden lighthouse, about 20 meters long, with a guiding capacity of about 25 miles, which met the need at the time.”

Port Said Lighthouses

With the approaching opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, an urgent need arose to expand the marine lighting system along Egypt’s northern coast, from Port Said to Alexandria. The decision was made to build four main lighthouses in Rashid, Burullus, Ezbet El Borg, and Port Said.

However, what distinguished the Port Said lighthouse from the other three was that it was built using reinforced concrete, while the rest were made of iron. The construction task was assigned to “Coignet Contractors,” headed by the French engineer François Coignet, one of the first to use reinforced concrete on such a large scale.

The Port Said lighthouse is a unique engineering achievement, as it was built using a cement mixture reinforced with iron strips, accumulated one above the other to form an octagonal structure 56 meters high.

*The Suez Canal Waterway*

The lens is about 5 meters high, and its eastern facade overlooks the Suez Canal waterway. Its walls are painted in black and white, and it ends with an upper wooden structure topped by a black “ball.”

This “black ball” was not just a decoration; it was an important warning system for the passage of ship convoys coming from the north and south through the Canal, especially when its passage was narrow and surrounded by islands. It would rise and fall due to steam as a signal for the start of naval convoy movement at specific times: 7 AM, 12 PM, and 4 PM.

These signals were associated with the workers in the Naval Arsenal, affiliated with the Suez Canal Authority, who used to ask: “Where is the ball? Up or down?” to determine their break and exit times.

*Port Said Lighthouse: A Global Symbol*

Dr. Mohamed Shagar explained with clear delight: “Now we hear about a project to develop the lighthouse and its surrounding area. This is what we dreamed of and strived for. This lighthouse does not represent only local heritage; it is a global symbol. Being the first concrete building of such magnitude, and still standing today, is proof of Coignet’s success in concrete construction theory.”

Shagar pointed out the importance of including the “Port Said Lighthouse” on the global tourism map, citing Thomas Cook’s trips, who chose Port Said as a major key point in his tourism program from England to India, including landmarks such as the “Eastern Exchange” hotel. He added: “This is the ambition, for Port Said to become a global tourist attraction, and for its historic lighthouse to be included as one of the most prominent attractions.”

He praised the comprehensive development work witnessed on “François Joseph” Street, considering it a successful model for tourism transformation in Port Said. He suggested that this street be transformed into an open museum, combining architectural and heritage beauty, attracting both domestic and international tourism.