Newhaven MCA Mast Gets a Dramatic Height Chop
The Newhaven skyline just lost a chunk of its iconic Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) mast. Around 15 meters were sliced off from the top after the structure showed serious signs of wear and tear. Along with this hefty trim came the removal of the old and outdated VHF Direction Finding (DF) array — signalling a fresh era for the mast.
High-Tech Antenna Overhaul Sparks Interest
Tech and maritime buffs will be buzzing: the mast’s antennas have been seriously rejigged. Some have been re-fed, while Seahaven FM now flaunts a snazzy new ‘string’. Sitting proudly at the mast’s summit are two collinear antennas — one handling Automatic Identification System (AIS) duties and the other acting as a general receive antenna, keeping channels clear.
South, North, and a Blast from the Past
- On the south side, folded dipoles dominate. These cover fixed and tunable MCA channels, with signals beamed straight back to the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) in Fareham.
- The north side hosts the RNLI’s pager-specific folded dipole and Seahaven’s cardioid dipole array. They’re backed by two horizontal Yagi antennas, all anchored with sturdy rope.
- Photographs also show two leftover dipoles, once emergency backups for the Sussex Ambulance service during the Labour Party Conference in Brighton — a nod to the mast’s versatile past.
Credit to Photographer and Tech Expert Paul Farley
Big thanks to Paul Farley for snapping these striking images and diving deep into the technical twists and turns of the mast’s makeover. His insights bring this transformation vividly to life.
