The first light navigational structure in Albania was built in the north-western side of Sazan Island in 1871. More than a decade later, in 1884, a second structure was erected in Shëngjin. Between the years 1878 to 1890, maritime experts from the Austro-Hungarian Empire drafted the first hydrographic maps in the country which were further improved by Italian experts during the period from 1933 to 1941. They planted new light navigational structures at the main entry points of the coast, in places such as: Durrës, Vlorë and Sarandë (Çukë). After the war, some major headlights were repaired and in collaboration with Soviet maritime specialists, new maps were published for the entire coast and marine region.

Lanterns powered by acetylene gas were put into operation and some of the older lanterns were refurbished with new parts. From 1958 to 1960, concrete and stone lantern towers of 8–14 m in height were built in the Cape of Panorma, south of the island of Sazan, in Shën Vasil, Pashaliman, Treport, Selita Cape, atop the Durrës Mountain, etc. From 1984 to 1986, two new beacon towers were built with the architecture of the time, one at the mouth of Vjosa River (20 m) and the other at Pali Cape (14 m). After 1985, some lamps were fitted with automatic electronic equipment, which increased their vision and reduced electricity consumption by 40%. At this time, more than 40 marine lanterns were numbered on the Albanian coast, covering the coastal waters at a range of 6 to 13 nautical miles, and in some capes up to 25 nautical miles. Presently there are a total of 84, mostly functional, lanterns from Buna to Saranda in full alert.

Lighthouses, buoys, maritime navigational marks This table shows a complete list of lighthouses, buoys and other navigational marks spread throughout the coast of Albania. No.NameCoordinatesClass of LightRangenmlLight ColorTypeElevation north east Ground level Sea level1Shëngjin lighthouseFl. W 5s12Inox pipe 2m atop military structure.11 m32 m2Red lighthouse at the entrance of Shëngjin port (left)Fl. R 5s4White concrete tower with a red open deck standing on a scaled base.6 m11.5 m3Temporary green trellis at the entrance of Shëngjin port (right)Fl. G 5s4Metal trellis standing on a scaled base.4 m6 m4Shëngjin with course 15Shëngjin with course 26Buoy no.0 7Buoy no.18Buoy no.2 9Buoy no.3 10Buoy no.411Talë trellisFl. W 6s6White steel trellis 2 m above the Hidrovori.9 m10 m12Rodoni Cape lighthouseFl.(2) W 10s9Inox pipe atop the cape.3.5 m44.5 m13Rodoni buoyFl.(9) W 15s6Cardinal western buoy.–3 m14Pali Cape lighthouseFl. W 10s10Concrete square tower.11 m34.5 m15Pali Cape channel buoy (left)Fl. R 2s3Lateral red buoy.–3 m16Pali Cape channel buoy (right)Fl. G 2s3Lateral green buoy.–3 m17Pali Cape covered trellis 1Fl. W 2.5s4Course light steel trellis.6 m9 m18Pali Cape covered trellis 2Fl. W 6s4Inox pipe.1.7 m10 m19Romano Port buoy (open waters)–2.5Red buoy.–1.5 m20Romano Port side buoy (entrance)–4Red buoy.–2.5 m21Romano Port green lighthouse (entrance)–4Inox pipe standing on a scaled base.2 m6 m22Durrës lighthouse (Vila)Fl.(2) 10s20Octagonal decorative stone tower.14 m126 m23Durrës Port red lighthouse (left entrance)Fl. R 5s6Red plastic tower.4 m8 m24Durrës Port green lighthouse (right entrance)Fl. G 5s6Green plastic tower.4 m8 m25Durrës Channel directional signIso. WRG 2s5-7-5Xingaro pole.5 m7 m26Durrës Channel buoy no.0 (open waters)LFI W 10s–Buoy with red and white light.–4 m27Durrës Channel buoy no.1 (entrance)Fl. G 3s3Lateral right buoy with green light.–4 m28Durrës Channel buoy no.2 (entrance)Fl. R 3s3Lateral left buoy with red light.–4 m29Durrës Channel buoy no.3 (entrance)Fl.(2) G 6s3Lateral right buoy with green light.–4 m30Durrës Channel buoy no.4 (entrance)Fl.(2) R 6s3Lateral left buoy with red light.–4 m31Durrës Channel buoy no.5 (entrance)Fl.(3) G 9s3Lateral right buoy with green light.–4 m32Durrës Channel buoy no.6 (entrance)Fl.(3) R 9s3Lateral left buoy with red light.–4 m33Durrës Channel buoy no.7 (entrance)Fl. G 5s3Lateral right buoy with green light.–4 m34Talbot cekinë buoy Q(6)+LFIW. 15s6Cardinal southern buoy (with yellow and black).–4 m35Durrës cekinë buoyQ(9)W. 15s6Cardinal western buoy (with yellow and black).–4 m36Closed vessel buoyQ(6)+LFIW. 15s–Cardinal southern buoy (with yellow and black).–4 m37Fishing Port lighthouse (left)Fl.(2) R 8s3Red metal tower.8.5 m10.5 m38Fishing Port lighthouse (right)Fl.(2) G 8s3Green metal tower.8.5 m10.5 m39Cekina e Seladës 1 (northern)Q W 1s6Cardinal northern buoy (yellow and black).–4 m40Cekina e Seladës 2 (western)Q(9) W 15s6Cardinal western buoy (yellow and black).–4 m41Cekina e Seladës 3 (western)Q(9) W 15s6Cardinal western buoy (yellow and black).–4 m42Selina lighthouse (Lagji Cape)LFl. W 6s11White plastic tower.4 m71 m43Karavasta trellis (Hidrovori)Fl. W 3s10Steel trellis above the Hidrovori.12.8 m15.8 m44Treportet lighthouse (Zvërnec)Fl(2). W 8s9Grey octagonal concrete tower.12 m70 m45Triport LeftFl(2). R 5s6Red plastic base atop a rounded concrete tower.6 m8 m46Triport RightFl(2). G 5s6Green plastic base atop a rounded concrete tower.6 m8 m47PIA, red buoy (Pair I)Fl. R 3s6Side red buoy.–4 m48PIA, green buoy (Pair I)Fl. G 3s6Side green buoy.–4 m49PIA, red buoy (Pair II)Fl. R 6s6Side red buoy.–4 m50PIA, green buoy (Pair II)Fl. G 6s6Side green buoy.–4 m51Northern wavebreakrerQ(6)+LFIW. 15s6Cardinal southern buoy.–4 m52Southern wavebreakerQ(9)W. 15s6Cardinal western buoy.–4 m53PIA aquarium buoy no.1Iso. W 2s4Small open waters buoy (red and white).–1 m54PIA aquarium buoy no.2Iso. W 2s4Small open waters buoy (red and white).–1 m55PIA aquarium buoy no.3Iso. W 2s4Small open waters buoy (red and white).–1 m56PIA aquarium buoy no.4Iso. W 2s4Small open waters buoy (red and white).–1 m57Vlorë TEC black buoySmall black buoy.–1 m58Vlorë TEC red buoySmall red buoy.–1 m59Vlorë Port western red lighthouseFl. R 3s5Red plastic tower atop a square concrete base.8 m10 m60Vlorë Port eastern green lighthouseFl. G 3s5Green plastic tower atop a square concrete base.7 m8 m61Kalaja lighthouseLFl. W 10s10White square concrete tower.8 m44 m62Benzinato VlorëFl(2)W. 6s6Possibly isolated.–4 m63Orikum lighthouse (Pashaliman)Fl(2)W. 5s8Grey square concrete tower.8 m21 m64Shën Vasili lighthouseFl(3)W. 8s8Grey octagonal concrete tower.6 m55 m65Gallovec trellis (Shën Jan)Fl. G 3s4Steel trellis atop a concrete base.4 m14 m66Gjuhëza Cape lighthouseFl. W 6s11Land beacon (bunker).4 m58 m67Grama trellisFl. W 6s5Steel trellis.4 m51.5 m68Orikum Marina (red)Fl. R 4s3Side buoy.–4 m69Orikum Marina (green)FG3White steel pipe.–5 m70Sazan lighthouse (northern entrance)Fl. G 4s4Green plastic tower atop a concrete base.4 m10 m71Sazan lighthouse (southern entrance)Fl. R 4s4Red plastic tower atop a concrete base.4 m10 m72Sazan southern lighthouseFl. R 3s4White concrete tower.8 m32.5 m73Sazan northern lighthouseFl(4)W. 15s12Inox pipe atop a bunker.5 m157 m74Himara lighthouseFl. W 3s6White plastic tower.6 m8 m75Panorma Cape lighthouseFl. W 8s6White square stone tower.10 m114 m76Course towards Panorma77Qefali Cape lighthouseFl. W 5s20Metal pole.8 m155 m78Limion (right)Fl. G 3s4Green steel pole.6 m8 m79Limion (left)Fl. R 3s4Red steel pole.6 m8 m80Cekina e PaladinësQ(6)+LFIW. 15s6Cardinal southern plastic buoy (yellow and black).–4 m81Saranda Port82Saranda Beach buoyFl(2)W. 6s6Isolated danger buoy (red and black).–4 m83Lëkurësi lighthouseFl(3)W. 30s20Concrete tower covered with decorative stone.5 m214 m84Bredeneshi trellis (Çukë)Fl(4)W. 12s6Trellis atop concrete base.4.5 m37.5 m

The lantern icons displayed in the table above are precise graphical recreations of the light navigational structures found along the coastal waters of Albania. The yellow light bulb icon represents in fact color white but due to technical limitations that made it difficult to properly display a white bulb in the current table background, yellow was the closest color chosen.

See also Lists of lighthouses and lightvessels Albanian Hydrographic Service

References