Press Releases - back to Press 31st August 2006
Rubha Cadail Lighthouse Handover
On Thursday 31 August 2006 the Northern Lighthouse Board hands over full responsibility for Rubha Cadail lighthouse to Ullapool Harbour Trust. This move comes as a result of the General Lighthouse Authorities’ Aids to Navigation Review carried out in 2005. The General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man is the Northern Lighthouse Board, based in Edinburgh.
The Review looked at the entire provision and requirement of marine aids to navigation around our coastline and found that the light at Rubha Cadail served only to mark the entrance to Loch Broom and Ullapool Harbour. Under the terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, the light should therefore come under the jurisdiction of Ullapool Harbour Trust, as the Local Lighthouse Authority.
The Northern Lighthouse Board have solarised the majority of its lighthouses in order to remove gas from installations for safety issues relating to the usage, transportation and storage. In some cases at its minor lights (those with a range of less than 15 nautical miles) this has entailed the removal of the existing structure and replacement with new metal framework towers. However, the Board were keen to retain some existing structures from a historical preservation point of view and following discussions with local representatives it was decided that Rubha Cadail would be preserved as a good example of its type. In 2002 the Board carried out work to refurbish the tower and solarise the light.
Responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the light will now fall to Ullapool Harbour Trust; however the light will continue to operate to its current character of flashing White/Red/Green every 6 seconds.
---oOo---Notes to Editor
The Marine Aids to Navigation Review 2005 and its findings can be found on the Board’s website at www.nlb.org.uk under the heading of NEWS.
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.The Board currently operates: 212 Lighthouses, 154 Buoys, 47 Beacons, 4 Differential Global Positioning System Stations and 1 Loran-C Station on trial.
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.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).
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 and OHSAS 18001.For further information, please contact:-
Lorna Hunter, Information OfficerTel 0131 473 3100
Fax 0131 220 2093
Email: enquiries@nlb.org.uk
www.nlb.org.uk