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New Chairman of The Commissioners of
Northern Lighthouses visits Lighthouse Depot
The new Chairman of The Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, The Lord Joseph Maclay DL, is visiting the Board's Depot in Stromness on Friday 8 June 2001. The Lord Maclay comes from a background of commercial shipping and has served as a Commissioner of Northern Lighthouses since 1996 and took over as Chairman of the Board in April 2001.
During his visit to the Depot, he will meet with Depot staff and get the opportunity to see work in progress at the Brough of Birsay Lighthouse, where the Board are converting the light from gas power to a solar-electric system, augmented by vertical axis wind powered generators.
On the 19 July 2001, as part of Shopping Week, the Northern Lighthouse Board will again open the gates of the Depot to the public, so they can get the opportunity to learn about the Board and how buoys are maintained. It is also hoped, subject to workload, to have MV POLE STAR alongside, so the public can get a chance to go on board the Board's latest Aids to Navigation Tender. Only launched in April 2000, MV POLE STAR boasts some of the most sophisticated navigation and buoy-handling equipment. The Depot will be open to visitors from 11am until 4pm.
Notes to the Editor
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: 200 Lighthouses, 118 Buoys, 42 Beacons, 3 Differential Global Positioning System Stations, 22 Radar Beacons and 16 Fog Signals.
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 Lighthouse Service (England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar).
For further information, please contact:
Lorna Hunter, Information Officer
Tel 0131 473 3100
Fax 0131 220 2093