Statutory Background

The Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses are vested with the superintendence and management of all lighthouses, buoys and beacons throughout Scotland and the adjacent seas and islands and the Isle of Man under Section 195 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. They are a corporate body, known as the Northern Lighthouse Board (the Board), constituted by Section 193 of that Act.

The Commissioners, within the area of jurisdiction for which they are the General Lighthouse Authority, have various powers and responsibilities in connection with the provision, maintenance, alteration, inspection and control of Lighthouses, buoys and beacons, under Section 197 of the 1995 Act as amended. They also have Wreck Removal powers under Section 253 of the Act.

The Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 gives the Board the power to enter into and perform contracts with third parties, utilising spare capacity, with the permission of the Secretary of State. The Commencement Order for this and other provisions came into force on 17 July 1997.

Further information about the General Lighthouse Authorities may be viewed free of charge on the HMSO website, www.hmso.gov.uk. Printed copies are available to order, on payment of the appropriate costs, from the Stationery Office website, www.tso.co.uk/bookshop and TSO shops in cities and major towns across the UK.

Among the information published by TSO are
· The General Lighthouse Fund Report and Accounts
· The Merchant Shipping Act 1995
· The Merchant Shipping Act (Light Dues) Regulations 1997