Departure of the Cardiff Bay lightship The lightship in Cardiff Bay has been a feature for the past 22 years, but is now off to pastures new, the on-board cafe having closed a couple of years ago, and the ship now sold. The ship, built in 1953, was last used as a lightship (Light Vessel LV14) at Helwick, off Gower in South Wales, and was then purchased in 1993 and brought to Cardiff to be refurbished as a Christian Centre. The removal operation from Cardiff Bay was undertaken by Bullo Marine with their craft MV Sabrina. With the two vessels securely tied together, progress is made out from Roath Dock.