El Puerto

The president of the Port Authority, Jose Benito Suárez Costa, expressed his interest in promoting a cultural use for the future of the Ons lighthouse that is compatible with its primary function as a navigational aid. The light of the current Ons lighthouse celebrates its centenary this year, a particularly significant event for the Port Authority and, by extension, for the history of the maritime signals managed by the entity. To mark this occasion, a book on the history of the maritime signals in the Pontevedra estuary, entitled “Rojo a Babor” has been published. Its authors are Enrique Abati, a former lighthouse keeper and head of maritime signals for the Port Authority, and María Eyo, Head of the Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility Division. The book is a comprehensive historical investigation of each of the navigational aids in the Pontevedra estuary and is being distributed to libraries, archives, educational centers, and museums in the surrounding area to make it available to the general public. The operational reality of the Ons lighthouse—as well as the other lighthouses, beacon towers, and buoys—has evolved substantially in recent years, transitioning from manual operation to a fully automated and monitored system. “Consequently, and without prejudice to the technical and safety requirements that must always be maintained,” stated the president, “there are parts of the building that are not essential for the operation and routine maintenance of the navigational aids service and that could be repurposed.” In line with the Port Authority’s commitment to maritime cultural heritage, “the possibility of giving a cultural use, such as a museum or exhibition space, to the part of the Ons lighthouse not required for its operation is being considered,” added Suárez Costa. The President of the Port Authority highlighted the outstanding work carried out by the successive lighthouse keepers on the island, “who over the years have dedicated part of their time and expertise to recovering and preserving historical artifacts linked to the lighthouse and maritime signals: items that speak of technology, maritime safety, the craft, daily life, and memory.” Last year, the Port Authority published a physical catalog describing these items to preserve and disseminate their legacy, entitled “Ons, la memoria del faro”. In parallel, there is already a permanent exhibition at the lighthouse, which has been visited by cultural groups and educational centers and is operating with absolute respect for the environment and the site's limitations. The Port Authority believes that an opportunity now exists “to organize and consolidate this content in a museum format, always compatible with the service and without interfering with the present and future needs of the navigational aid system, which is fundamental for safety in the estuary.” In this regard, the president has already begun discussions with the other involved administrations to define the characteristics and unique aspects of the project, which will also need to determine its management structure. The Port Authority has also invited several social and cultural groups, who have expressed their concerns about the future of the lighthouse, to a meeting next week "with the aim of opening a channel for dialogue and the exchange of ideas that will help us bring the project to fruition," Suárez Costa concluded.