The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) welcomes the report following the Assessment into the provision of marine aids to navigation around the UK and the Republic of Ireland and believes that, while challenging, it will serve as an excellent long-term blueprint for ensuring maritime safety for the British Isles. The report supports the continuation of three separate lighthouse authorities while recommending the introduction of an empowered Joint Strategic Board which will drive through the efficiencies and synergies that the three authorities can achieve by working together. The NLB particularly welcomes this development which will further increase the productive coordination that already exists. The NLB, which is responsible for ensuring maritime safety in some of the world’s most dangerous coastlines around Scotland and the Isle of Man, is pleased that the report recognises that the organisation has consistently reduced costs whilst maintaining the highest levels of safety. NLB Chief Executive, Roger Lockwood, said: “This report is a very useful analysis and will serve as a good basis for maritime safety in the long-term.“Although we have a history stretching back over two hundred years, we also pride ourselves on being at the forefront of navigational technology. Safety is always our overriding concern and we are committed to the preservation of the lives of mariners, the safe passage of the vessels that ply our waters and the protection of the environment, but we are equally committed to ensuring that we do so in the most economical way. “The report makes reference to the Draft Marine Navigation Bill. This received cross-party support in 2008 and we would like to see the Bill introduced in the new Parliament. It included measures, for example, which would allow us to use our considerable expertise for commercial activities enabling the Government to reduce light dues for shipowners.” The three lighthouse authorities are funded by light dues levied on ships making calls at UK and Irish ports. Over the period 1993-2009 light dues were reduced substantially in real terms as a result of efficiency gains by the lighthouse authorities. NLB is also aiming to make greater and more innovative use of technology and is assessing how commercial activities can provide additional revenue.
BackgroundOn 10 June 2009 the House was advised that the Department for Transport and the Irish Department of Transport had agreed to undertake an independent assessment of aids to navigation around the UK and Ireland. Subsequently, the Department awarded a contract to Atkins, who has now completed the assessment. This report has now been published hereOn 10 March 2010 Paul Clark, The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport, gave a written report to the House of the publication of a consultants’ report entitled “Assessment of the provision of marine aids to navigation around the United Kingdom and Ireland”, and of a revision to the planned level of light dues rates from 1 April 2010....More 1. The Northern Lighthouse Board operates under statute - the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 - and is the General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man. 2. The Board currently operates: 208 lighthouses, 165 Buoys, 34 Beacons, 8 AIS stations, 4 DGPS Stations, 27 Racons, 1 GLA eLoran Station (jointly with partner GLAs). 3. The Northern Lighthouse Board is funded entirely from the General Lighthouse Fund, sourced by "Light Dues", a levy paid by shipping. The Board receives no direct funding from the Exchequer or taxpayer. 4. The other General Lighthouse Authorities are the Commissioners of Irish Lights (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) and Trinity House (England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar). 5. The Northern Lighthouse Board is certificated to ISO9001:2000 standard for the provision of navigational aid services to seafarers and other organisations around the coast of Scotland and Isle of Man. Certification covers the design and maintenance of navigational aids and systems, logistical support and associated technical services including consultancy. The Board is also certified to The International Safety Management Code, (ISM Code) in respect of our ships and marine management systems, OHSAS 18001 and BS ISO/IEC 27001:2005. Northern Lighthouse Board Tel 0131 473 3100 Fax 0131 220 2093 Email: enquiries@nlb.org.uk