The Floating Power Plant “Our Lady of Light”

At the start of the southern dock of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, next to the historic lighthouse, the floating power plant “Our Lady of Light” appears, in service of UNELCO from September 1962 to May 1973, when it was towed to Arrecife de Lanzarote after being grounded at NUVASA. It is an important industrial reference in the contemporary history of the capital and the Tenerife port, where it was known as “the ship of light.”

This vessel, with an interesting history, was originally a Buckley-class frigate, which was named USS “Oswald” (DE-71, later DE-767) on February 23, 1943. It was built at the Bethlehem-Hingham Steel Shipyard in Hingham, Massachusetts (USA). Construction began on April 5, and it was launched on June 30, being transferred to the Royal Navy on September 26 under the Lend-Lease agreement, where it became part of the Captain class with the new name HMS “Affleck” (K 462).

Weighing 1,400 standard tons and 1,740 tons at maximum displacement, it measured 93.26 m in length, 11.24 m in beam, and 4.14 m in draft. It was powered by two General Electric turbines, with a power of 12,000 horsepower over two shafts, taking steam from two D-type boilers, allowing it to maintain a speed of 24 knots. At an economical speed of 12 knots, it had a range of 4,940 miles. Its armament consisted of three 50 mm guns, eight 20 mm guns, and six depth charge launchers.

On December 26, 1944, it was seriously damaged in an attack by the submarine U-486 while patrolling near Cherbourg, alongside the frigate of its class HMS “Capel” (K 470), which sank.

After the war and through intermediaries, the wreck was acquired by the INI and transformed into a floating power plant in Hoboken (Belgium). Renamed “Our Lady of Light,” it first began its valuable work in mainland ports – Cartagena, Barcelona, and San Fernando – before being transferred to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where it arrived in September 1962, following the tow of the Spanish Navy tug RA-3.

Freshly completed, in its first stage as USS "Oswald" (DE-71)

Flying the British flag with the name HMS "Affleck" (K-462)

Damage sustained at the stern after the submarine attack

Panoramic view of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the floating power plant "Our Lady of Light"

Photos: archive of Miguel Bravo and navsource.org