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GLAs LOOK TO THE YEAR 2020 AND
THE FUTURE OF MARINE SAFETY

JOINT NEWS RELEASE

Trinity House- Northern Lighthouse Board - Commissioners of Irish Lights

GLAs LOOK TO THE YEAR 2020 AND
THE FUTURE OF MARINE SAFETY

The three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) – Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS), the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) and Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) - today announce a vision of the future of Aids to Navigation (AtoN) requirements around the UK and Republic of Ireland until the year 2020. The comprehensive strategy has been welcomed and accepted on behalf of the Government by the Transport Minister – David Jamieson MP.

After extensive consultation with users and the Nautical Institute, the three GLAs have today published their strategy for the future of aids to navigation around the UK and Republic of Ireland to ensure that an efficient, relevant and cost effective service is provided for all mariners.

The maritime world is developing rapidly as craft get larger and faster and traffic in busy areas such as the Dover Strait increases year on year. This coupled with rapid advances in technology mean that there are ever greater demands placed upon the GLAs resources. However, the GLAs are confident that with a mix of visual and electronic aids, they are well placed to continue to provide a highly efficient service for the future.

2020 The Vision contains the following key findings:
· The widespread reliance on Global Navigation Satellite Systems has encouraged mariners to navigate closer inshore and at night or reduced visibility – conditions under which they are less used to navigating. The GLAs will need to provide additional AtoN within these areas to mitigate risk.
· With increases in traffic, there is an ever-increasing risk of grounding or collision; AtoN will be used to minimise risk to the vessels and the damage to the marine environment through pollution.

· The GLAs envisage that Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology will significantly enhance and complement existing AtoN. The GLAs will apply AIS technology to selected AtoN during the period of this strategy.
· With concerns about the vulnerability of GNSS, the GLAs consider the provision of a terrestrial radionavigation backup is essential. Currently LORAN-C has the potential to fulfill requirements but further investigation and analysis is needed.
· Lighthouses will have a decreasing significance over time and some may be discontinued. Those that remain will have an enhanced role with value added services including: a platform for DGPS, Racons and AIS; directional and sectored lights; and meteorological data.

To deliver this strategy the three GLAs will continue to co-operate with each other and consult with all users to continuously review all its AtoN. The GLAs will continue to participate in IALA to ensure continuous representation of national interests, and to provide a seamless service for the mariner. Furthermore the GLAs will search for new cost effective technology that can deliver an ever more efficient service to ensure that the AtoN requirements of the next 15 years are met.

David Jamieson, Minister for Shipping, said: “ Against a background of rapidly evolving technology I particularly welcome the GLAs assessment of the future of marine aids to navigation. This has come from a need to navigate the way through a plethora of technological advances to produce a coherent strategy for both current and future needs”.

“My thanks go to the GLAs for taking the lead in providing modern, cost effective services that protect all mariners and I commend this document as a framework for many more years of invaluable work”

Jeremy de Halpert, Executive Chairman of Trinity House said: “The marine landscape is continuously changing and becoming ever more demanding, in the creation of this strategy for the next 15 years, we have reviewed the service we supply and have planned for future requirements of all mariners”.

“The over reliance on satellite navigation systems is a concern and we must continue to ensure that the Aids to Navigation are in place should this system fail or fall victim to attack. The GLAs are also working hard to ensure that systems such as LORAN-C and AIS are an aid and not a hindrance to navigation, whilst not overly increasing the reliance on new technology”.

“We are delighted that the Government has adopted our vision for the future and the GLAs will work hard to deliver it in the most cost effective way to ensure the safety of navigation for all.”

Ends

Note to Editors

1. A further briefing on 2020 The Vision – Marine Aids to Navigation Strategy to 2020, will be held at the Headquarters of the Northern Lighthouse Board, 84 George Street, Edinburgh, at 1800 on Tuesday 26 October.

2 Copies of the 2020 The Vision document are available by telephoning 020 7481 6950 or e-mail howard.cooper@thls.org. Copies can also be downloaded from the GLAs websites www.trinityhouse.co.uk , www.nlb.org.uk or www.cil.ie

For further information contact:

Howard Cooper, Trinity House Tel: 020 7481 6950

Veronica Hannon, Flagship Consulting Tel: 020 7886 8457

6 October 2004