Press Releases - back to Press
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 Oban on Thursday 2 August 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 the work in progress on the modernisation of the Depot. The work, which is on schedule for completion this December, involves:
· the construction of a new building to accommodate buoy refurbishment, storage and engineering workshop functions:
· infill works to extend the surface area of the Board's pier and hardstanding:
· refurbishment of an existing building to provide offices and welfare facilities:
· improvements to the access arrangements and the junction with Gallanach Road.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