Two lanterns have been set atop either lighthouse at the end of the breakwaters that span the mouth of the Grand Harbour.

The original lanterns had been missing for decades

A green one adorns the St Elmo breakwater, while the one on the Ricasoli side is red.

Both are based on the original design of the lanterns installed by the British and are in line with international regulations.

They provide daytime visual navigational indication and practically complete the €1.1 million restoration works carried out on the Grand Harbour breakwaters, Transport Malta said.

The original British lanterns had been missing for decades. The new ones respect the original design and dimensions according to plans retrieved from the national archives in Rabat.

The red and green lanterns complement the newly constructed bridge linking Fort St Elmo to the north breakwater arm.

The bridge was inaugurated last July, nearly 71 years to the day since the original structure was demolished in an Italian torpedo boat attack during the World War II.

It was removed after the war and only the central pillars remained – these have been retained to this day.