Sandettié

Sandettié is a former lightship now displayed at Dunkirk Port Museum, serving as a floating exhibit of mid-20th century maritime safety technology. The vessel contains a navigation room, crew quarters, and technical systems that remain intact from its working years.

The vessel was built in 1949 and served as a warning station at Sandettié Bank until 1989, marking dangerous sandbanks north of Calais for passing ships. Following its retirement from active duty, it was preserved as a museum ship to document this period of French maritime safety operations.

The vessel demonstrates how French maritime authorities addressed the dangers of shifting sandbanks through dedicated warning systems. Visitors can observe the living and working spaces that crew members inhabited during their rotations guarding this hazardous shipping route.

The vessel is open for visitors to explore its decks and interior spaces at their own pace, allowing direct observation of the original equipment and layout. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and allow extra time to navigate the narrow stairs and tight passages typical of ships from this era.

The vessel collected meteorological data that was broadcast through the BBC Shipping Forecast, providing essential weather information to seafarers across the North Sea region. This dual role as both a navigation marker and weather data station made it a critical component of international maritime safety operations.