Policies

The three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) - The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB), Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL), and Trinity House (TH) have a shared mission statement:

"To deliver a reliable, efficient, and cost effective AtoN service for the benefit and safety of all mariners."

The GLAs’ marine aids to navigation vision is for a balanced mix of physical and radio AtoNs that will meet the UK’s and Ireland’s responsibilities as Contracting Governments to the IMO’s SOLAS Convention. In so doing it will support the introduction of the IMO’s e-Navigation initiative and will deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-effective AtoN service for the benefit and safety of all mariners.

The GLA’s key Policy documents can be found below:-

Marine Aids to Navigation Strategy - 2025 & Beyond

(Published July 2011)

The GLA Marine Aids to Navigation Strategy - 2025 & Beyond was launched by Mike Penning, Shipping Minister on 18 July 2011.The document outlines how the Northern Lighthouse Board, Trinity House and the Commissioners of Irish Lights will fulfill their shared mission of 'delivering a reliable, efficient and cost effective aids to navigation service for the benefit and safety of all mariners'. Through the publication of this document the GLAs have committed to continue to provide a service that is robust, efficient and economic with the appropriate mix of physical and electronic aids to navigation.

GLA Aids to Navigation Review 2010-2015

(Published May 2010)

The GLA Aids to Navigation Review 2010 -2015 follows wide scale consultation with users and representative organisations across the whole spectrum of users from leisure sailors to large commercial operators. The Review details the requirements for the waters around the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Visual Aids to Navigation Plan

(Published April 2008)

The GLAs’ Visual Aids to Navigation Plan (VANP) has been produced by the GLAs’ Research and Radio-Navigation Directorate, following an inter-GLA Workshop held in February 2007. It focuses specifically on the visual aids needed for safe navigation in the changing marine environment. This document therefore presents the GLAs’ plan in respect of lighthouses, beacons, major floating aids, buoys, day-marks and other forms of visual aid required for safe navigation in their areas of responsibility.

Joint Navigation Requirements Policies (JNRP)

(Published December 2007)

The GLAs share a common Vision Statement: ‘To deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-effective Aids to Navigation service for the benefit and safety of all Mariners.’ The GLAs work together to achieve common objectives and policies regarding their areas of responsibility.

Radio Navigation Policy

(Published February 2007)

The GLAs’ Radio Navigation Plan (GRNP) has been produced by the GLAs Radio Navigation Committee and is under ongoing management and maintenance by the GLAs’ Research and Radio Navigation Directorate. It focuses specifically upon radio navigation (RNAV) systems and their role within the overall Aids to Navigation (AtoN) service provision mix. This document therefore presents the GLAs’ plan in respect of GPS, Galileo, DGNSS, AIS, eLoran and racons.