Littoral Light News Summer 2014_E Magazine

Littoral light
news
Issue 4 Summer 2013
Welcome to this latest edition of Littoral Light News. There has been a great deal
of activity since the last edition across the whole spectrum of the work of the
General Lighthouse Authorities, as described on the following pages, and the
passing of the Marine Navigation Act has both squared off a number of
outstanding issues and given the GLAs a greater measure of flexibility with
regard to income generation. Generating income, on a level playing field with
industry, contributes to our overall aim of reducing costs, which is also being
achieved by the slimming down of our estate (as shown on page 5) and
adherence to an “RPI-X” financial savings regime. But our focus remains on
providing a safe and efficient service to the mariner and your feedback on this
is both welcome and vital (see page 4).
“To deliver a reliable, efficient
and cost-effective Aids to
Navigation service for the
benefit and safety of all
Mariners”
The NLB’s Vision Statement and
commitment to the Mariner
Roger Lockwood, Chief Executive
For the Safety of All....
In this issue
MINISTERS ANNOUNCEMENT ON LIGHT DUES
MARINE NAVIGATION ACT 2013
UK SPEEDS AHEAD WITH ROLLOUT OF
eLORAN STATIONS TO BACKUP VULNERABLE
GPS
OFFSHORE EUROPE 2013
LIGHTHOUSE TRANSFERS
INIS HYDRO
DELIVERING 2025 & BEYOND
LIGHTHOUSE ENGINEERING MAINTENANCE
Monach Isles© Patricia & Angus Macdonald
Northern Lighthouse Board
84 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 3DA
Telephone +44 (0) 131 473 3100
Fax +44 (0) 131 220 2093
E-mail: enquiries@nlb.org.uk
www.nlb.org.uk
Provision of
Service...
The Northern Lighthouse Board is responsible for the provision of Aids to
Marine Navigation in Scotland and the Isle of Man. This area covers half
the waters and coastline of the United Kingdom, together with the
majority of offshore manned oil installations. The area is subject to severe
weather conditions for many months of the year. The approximate length
of this coastline is 6,214 miles (10,000km) a land area of 30,405sq miles
(77,700 sq km) and 790 islands. * Source Scottish Statistics
Resources:
The Northern Lighthouse Board is responsible for a network of:■
■
■
■
■
■
■
203 lighthouses
164 Buoys
29 Beacons
31 AIS Stations (11 fixed and 16 floating)
4 DGPS Stations
31 Racons
1 GLA Loran Station (jointly with partner GLAs)
More than Lighthouses www.nlb.org.uk
The Board are pleased to announce the
appointment of New Chairman...
The Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses are pleased to announce that Captain
H Michael Close took up appointment as Chairman of the Commissioners of
Northern Lighthouses on 1 April 2013.
My time with the Board so far has afforded me
an almost unique chance to return something to
a community of which I am very privileged to
be a member and which has given me a lot of
opportunities, satisfaction and enjoyment over
the years.
Captain Mike Close
Chairman Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses
Mike Close was Vice-Chairman of the Board since April 2011 and has been an active
member of the Board since joining in 2008. For the last few years Mike Close has
been part of the marine management team at Total Exploration & Production (TEP)
UK Ltd., a subsidiary of the French multi-national oil company. TEP UK Ltd. He
said “I am continuingly grateful to the Board for the opportunity to serve as one of the Commissioners
of Northern Lighthouses and taking over as Chair is a real honour. My time with the Board so
far has afforded me an almost unique chance to return something to a community of which I am very
privileged to be a member and which has given me a lot of opportunities, satisfaction and enjoyment
over the years. I look forward with anticipation to supporting the Board and its personnel in their
various activities over the next two years as Chair”.
Taking over as Vice Chair is Alistair Mackenzie, who joined the Board in 2009.
Current Director (Oil & Gas) Achilles Group.
New Board Members - Recent appointments upon the retiral of Alistair Whyte
and Robert Quayle include Captain Alastair Beveridge and Captain Michael Brew
(Isle of Man Representative).
Ministers Announcement
on Light Dues...
Marine Navigation Act 2013
The Marine Navigation Act (No.2) was passed in March 2013. It
has three measures which affect the GLAs:
●
●
●
a clearer definition of our areas of jurisdiction (ie, where
we are allowed to carry out our statutory obligations). The
area of jurisdiction for the General Lighthouse Authorities
will now be to the extent of the UK Pollution Control Zone
that in turn is designated by orders under section 1(7) of
the Continental Shelf Act 1964;
further flexibility with respect to earning commercial
income (eg, the provision of consultancy services);
and an extension to the way in which we can mark wrecks
(eg, by the use of virtual AtoNs).
“
Stephen Hammond MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport
Light dues to be frozen at current levels for 2013 to 2014.
The three General Lighthouse Authorities for the United
Kingdom and Ireland ensure the navigability of the seas
around our islands, preserving the lives of mariners and the
integrity of our marine environment. We entrust this vital task
to these historic organisations, each of which protects ships
visiting and trading within our shores.
Our collaboration with the Irish government in the provision
of marine aids to navigation around the whole of Ireland is
also symbolic of the friendship that exists between our 2
nations, and what we can achieve through working together.
Over many years, the General Lighthouse Authorities have
built up great expertise and capabilities in maritime
operations. This has enabled each authority to market their
skills to earn commercial income and reduce the call on light
dues payers, but only where it does not interfere with their
core statutory activities.
I remain committed to the efficient and effective provision
of marine aids to navigation. I have therefore decided that
light dues will be frozen at the current levels for 2013 to 2014.
This government has delivered a 12% reduction in real term
light dues levels since 2010, and confirmation of this further
freeze will give certainty over the coming year to those asked
to pay for this vital service.
”
Northern Lighthouse Board - Littoral Lights Summer 2013
2
UK speeds ahead with rollout of eLoran stations to backup
vulnerable GPS
shipping companies operating both passenger and cargo
services. The rollout, led by the General Lighthouse Authorities
(GLAs) of the UK and Ireland, will replace the equipment in two
prototype stations at Dover and Harwich, and five new stations
The UK’s pursuit of technology to counter the threat of GPS
will be deployed in the Medway, Humber, Middlesbrough, Firth
jamming has achieved a significant milestone, and is setting
the benchmark across the globe.
of Forth, and Aberdeen. The GLAs have contracted UrsaNav Inc.
It was announced on 17 July 2013 that seven differential for the deployment to deliver initial operational capability by
eLoran stations will be installed along the South and East coast Summer 2014.
of the UK, following approval by the Department for Transport.
The stations will provide alternative position, navigation and
timing (PNT) information to ensure that ships equipped with For more information on this important development visit
eLoran receivers can navigate safely in the event of GPS failure http://www.nlb.org.uk/InformationCentre/News/Documen
ts/UK-speeds-ahead-with-rollout-of-eLoran-stations-toin one of the busiest shipping regions in the world.
The UK is the first in the world to deploy this technology for backup-vulnerable-GPS/
DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT APPROVES
IMPLEMENTATION OF SEVEN DIFFERENTIAL
ELORAN STATIONS ALONG THE UK COASTLINE
Scottish Users’ Consultative Group
A
For more information on this visit:www.nlb.org.uk/AboutUs/BoardBusiness
/Minutes-of-Meetings/ for the Minutes
of the Scottish Users’ Consultative Group
meeting and The presentation by Dr Paul
Williams.
Northern Lighthouse Board
2014 Lighthouse Calendar
RENEWABLE ENERGY
DEVELOPMENTS
T
he Board’s Navigation team continue to be kept busy, with
renewable energy developments the main growth area. Orkney is
the main focus area for Wave and Tidal energy development, as a
result of the EMEC test centre, the award of the first round of exclusive
development agreements and the Council’s redevelopment of piers at
Hatston and Lyness, and development of a new pier to the East of
Stromness.
The most resource intensive project for the Engineering
Department this year is the repair of the Bell Rock helipad.
While, in overall terms, the scope of the works, compared with
other lighthouse projects, are not unusually large, the location
presents specific challenges. The helipad itself is tidal and this
requires the programme to concentrate work around the
spring tide periods and on a given day only 3 to 4 hours can be
worked around each of the two low tide windows. Between
each working window, as the helipad is fully covered, it needs
to be left in a state that can be submerged and subject to wave
action. Over and above this are the usual difficulties of working
and living on a pillar rock whilst conducting major works.
Our 2014 calendar is in full colour and
features 12 wonderful photographs of our
lights with additional information about the
lights featured.
visit http://www.nlb.org.uk/shop/
◄ Bell Rock at low tide showing the walkway and helipad.
Bell Rock with tide fully in. Image courtesy of Kimberly Fahlan.
t the start of November 2012 the
Board held its annual Scottish
Users’
Consultative
Group
meeting in Edinburgh. We took the
opportunity to update the Group on
issues including DGPS recapitalisation,
POLE STAR’s Interreg survey project and
renewable energy developments. We also
benefited
from
an
enthusiastic
presentation by Dr Paul Williams from the
GLA Research and Radio Navigation
Directorate on the subject of enhanced
Loran (eLoran) trials and the ACCSEAS
project. In 2013 the NLB ship’s will be
involved in eLoran trials in the Forth and
Aberdeen areas, where differential
monitoring receivers will be installed and
the coverage patterns mapped.
Northern Lighthouse Board - Littoral Light News Summer 2013
3
Offshore Europe 2013
Come along and
meet the team
The Statutory team from the Navigation
Section will be on hand to discuss:
NLB TO EXHIBIT AT
OFFSHORE EUROPE
3 - 6 September 2013
•
•
•
•
Offshore Europe is the premier exhibition and
conference for the oil and gas industry in Europe.
Held every two years in Aberdeen it attracts a
global audience, with particular emphasis on
operators involved in the North Sea and other
British Waters.
The Board will be represented by Statutory and
Business Development teams to enhance our
contact with this critical maritime sector.
Offshore Standard Marking Schedule
Coast Protection Act
Territorial Waters
Safety Zones – both Operational &
Construction/Decommissioning
The Business Development team will be
presenting the Board’s expertise in:
• Marking of Decommissioned Structures
• Buoy work
• Survey Capabilities
With thousands of offshore professionals
visiting the show each day it will be a busy
4 days.
QR code: Use a
smartphone to
scan this image
and you will be
directed to our
Commercial
page.
It’s our core business –
let our innovative and dependable solutions help you to concentrate on yours...
W
ith the exception of a
relatively small part of
our waters (e.g. the Tay,
the Solway and the Sound of Harris),
most of our waters have stable
bathymetry and present consistent
hazard levels in terms of groundings.
It was therefore quite unusual to
receive a survey report in September
2012 suggesting that the Corpach
channel at the north end of Loch
Linnhe, charted as 5.5 metres below
chart datum, had been surveyed as
2.77 metres, significantly less and
certainly an issue for some vessels
that use this area. NLB responded by
tasking POLE STAR with a local
survey, which confirmed the issue,
and then PHAROS with laying a
temporary buoy. After further
discussion with local stakeholders, an
Isolated Danger Mark was prepared
in Oban and deployed in December.
USER
CONSULTATION
Feedback from our Users is essential if we
are to continue to provide this vital service.
The Board welcomes feedback on the
service we provide. If you think lights are in
the wrong place, wrong range, wrong colour
or that new buoys should be established
please contact the
Navigation Team by email
navigation@nlb.org.uk
or
Tel: 0131 473 3100
Notice to Mariners to advise mariners of
long term changes to Aid to Navigation
service provision are issued and posted on
the Board’s website
www.nlb.org.uk/Navigation/
NoticeToMariners/Main/
and on Facebook
◄ Isolated Danger Mark being prepared in Oban.
Northern Lighthouse Board - Littoral Light News Summer 2013
4
me
LIGHTHOUSE TRANSFERS
ALL CHANGE AT BRESSAY LIGHTHOUSE
So far this year, NLB has published a number of Notices
to Mariners detailing changes in service provision.
These can be found on the Board’s website at
www.nlb.org.uk/Navigation/NoticeToMariners/Main/
You can also subscribe for an automatic update via RSS
feeds from our website.
1 of 2013
Automatic Identification System (AIS) Use of AIS as an Aid to
Navigation (AtoN) - Issued 4 January 2013
2 of 2013
Floating Aids To Navigation/Lighthouse Landings - Issued 4
January 2013
3 of 2013
GLAs Public DGPS Transmissions - Issued 4 January 2013
4 of 2013
DGPS Recapitalisation Works - Issued 4 January 2013
5 of 2013
Copinsay (3676) - Temporary Reduction of Light Range - Issued
8 January 2013
6 of 2013
Chanonry (3440) - Alteration To Light - Issued 22 February 2013
7 of 2013
Hoy Sound, Hoy Mouth Front (A3644), Alteration to Light Issued 13 March 2013
8 of 2013
Islay, Otter Gander, Establishment of New Buoy Station - Issued
13 March 2013
9 of 2013
Sound of Sleat, Ornsay - Eilean Sionnach (A3944), Alteration To
Light, Issued 13 March 2013
10 of 2013
Buchan Ness (A3280), Re-Establishment of Permanent Light Issued 13 March 2013
11 of 2013
Tiree, Scarinesh (A4092) Alteration to Light - Issued 11 April
2013
12 of 2013
Holy Island (Outer) (A4330) – Re-Establishment of Permanent
Light, Issued 4 June 2013
13 of 2013
Dubh Artach (A4098) – Establishment of AIS as an Aid to
Navigation, Issued 4 June 2013
14 of 2013
Eilean Trodday (A4050) – Establishment of AIS as an Aid to
Navigation, Issued 11 June 2013
15 of 2013
Fife Ness (A3102) – Establishment of Temporary Light, Issued
15 July 2013
16 of 2013
Lady Rock (A4172) – Establishment of AIS as an Aid to
Navigation, Issued 15 July 2013
17 of 2013
Bogha Dubh Sgeir - Establishment of Temporary Buoy, issued 23
July 2013
18 of 2013
Sgeir Golach, Establishment of Temporary Buoy, issued 23 July
2013
19 of 2013
Inner Voder, AIS as an Aid to Navigation, issued 30 July 2013
20 of 2013
Barra Head (A4020), AIS as an Aid to Navigation, issued 30 July
2013.
21 of 2013
Small Isles (A4231), Change in Appearance, issued 7 August
2013.
22 of 2013
Sgeir Golach, Establishment of Light, issued 20 August 2013.
23 of 2013
Bogha Dubh Sgeir, Establishment of Light, issued 20 August
2013.
FORTH PORTS
On the 20 June 2013 the operational responsibility and ownership of
three NLB lighthouses in the Firth of Forth was transferred from the
NLB to Forth Ports. The lighthouses at Inchkeith, Fidra and Elie Ness
have been looked after by the NLB since they were established as
early as 1804, however as the lights were within the limits of the Forth
Ports harbour they qualified for transfer to Forth Ports under the
terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
INCHKEITH LIGHTHOUSE BY IMAGE BY IAN COWE
Notices to Mariners...
On the 12 September 2012 all changed at Bressay lighthouse when
the light, which had been operational for over 150 years, was
permanently discontinued by the Board. However, there was a
seamless transfer of the provision of an aid to navigation for Bressay
Sound. Instead of the 23 mile light shining from the original
Stevenson lighthouse a new 10 mile light is now provided by Lerwick
Port Authority.
This switchover follows years of discussion between the NLB and
Lerwick Port Authority. From the conclusions of the Northern
Lighthouse Board’s 2005 Review of its aids to navigation
requirements it was considered that as the Bressay light was within
Lerwick Harbour limits it qualified for transfer to the Authority under
the terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
Rather than the Port Authority taking over the existing Stevenson
structure they opted to erect a new light structure, which exhibits a 10
mile light showing the same character of flashing (2) every 20
seconds. The new structure with an LED light has been placed on the
site of the former radar station and fog signal adjacent to the existing
light.
Community Buy Out...
COVESEA SKERRIES LIGHTHOUSE
Following the discontinuation of Covesea Skerries on 2 March 2012
the Board no longer required the site and plans were put in place to
sell the Category A Listed property. In July 2012 the Covesea
Lighthouse Community Company Limited registered an interest in
the Covesea Skerries property under the terms contained in Part 2 of
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. They managed to secure a
major grant from the Scottish Land Fund and on 4th April 2013 the
Northern Lighthouse Board sold the entire lighthouse complex at
Covesea Skerries to the Covesea Lighthouse Community Company.
MULL OF GALLOWAY
In 2012 when the NLB intimated that they were considering the sale
of the site at the Mull of Galloway, with the exception of the actual
tower, the South Rhins Community Development Trust, the Trust
responsible for the management of visitor attractions at the Mull,
made the decision to go for a Community Buy Out. The Mull of
Galloway Trust was formed and the application for the registering of
their interest to purchase was submitted and accepted by the
Scottish Government. On the 4th July 2013 the former three
lightkeepers cottages, the former engine room which is now an
exhibition area, the RSPB centre, Fog Horn and 30 acres of heathland
at the Mull of Galloway was subject to a Community Buy Out. The
Northern Lighthouse Board still own and operate the lighthouse but
are now not responsible for the surrounding property/land.
Northern Lighthouse Board - Littoral Light News Summer 2013
55
General Lighthouse Authority
DGPS Upgrade...
NLB has, since the late 1990’s, operated a Differential Global
Positioning System (DGPS) that augments the GPS satellite
navigation signal provided by the USA. The NLB system both
increases the accuracy of the GPS signal and monitors and
advises the user regarding its integrity. The NLB DGPS
system is part of a tri-GLA system that also involves the
Commissioners of Irish Lights and Trinity House to give
complete coverage of the British Isles. NLB has four DGPS
stations located at Sumburgh (Shetland), Butt of Lewis
(Western Isles), Girdle Ness (Aberdeen) and Earls Hill
(Stirling) to give full coastal and land coverage for Scotland.
At present the current system, due to age and component
obsolescence, is being replaced and equipment replacement
work is currently on site with final commissioning of the
new system to occur in late 2013. The system is being
installed in a phased programme to ensure that the service
to the mariner remains in place at all times. This can be
achieved as the system layout determines that, unless two
adjacent stations are off air at the same time, the minimum
required service level is still achieved.
NLV PHAROS supports
trials of British
Geological Survey
seabed rockdrill - RD2
In the first half of 2013 PHAROS participated in trials of
the British Geological Survey (BGS) RD2 seabed
rockdrill. The RD2 is the latest generation of remotely
operated subsea rockdrills and operated from a
bespoke Launch and Recovery System (LARS) which,
with accompanying control and support containers, was
assembled on PHAROS’ deck.
This drill employs a multibarrel carousel system to allow
deeper penetration than was possible with previous
systems. It was developed by the BGS to meet the ever
increasing demands of science community; it can
continuously core in 1.7 m sections up to a total of 50 m
below seabed in water depths of 4000 m. Trials were
conducted in Loch Linnhe and the Forth of Forth.
● DGPS Stations
Sumburgh Head ●
●Butt of Lewis
● Girdle Ness
For more information
on DGPS visit:http://www.nlb.org.uk/
Navigation/Electronic/
DGPS/
●
Earls Hill
▲ BGS staff controlling & monitoring drilling from control container
▼ Preparing to launch Rockdrill using LAR, images courtesy of BGS
DGPS Systems Aerials at Girdle Ness Lighthouse
Northern Lighthouse Board - Littoral Light News Summer 2013
6
Objectives
2013/2014
Vision Statement
"To deliver a reliable, efficient and costeffective network of Aids to Navigation
for the benefit and safety of all Mariners"
Delivering 2025 & Beyond
In the last year the GLA’s have
launched:
2025
beyond
• To improve the Health and Safety of NLB staff, while retaining
an open and transparent Health and Safety culture, and reduce
the All Accident Frequency Rate (Injuries Only) by at least 10% by
31 March 2014.
• In 2013/14 to limit Running Costs (with commercial income
and costs netted off) to no more than £14,058,000 in order to
achieve and improve significantly upon the Real Cost Reduction
target of 2.68% (3.12% including commercial income/costs) for
the five year plan period 2011 - 2016 agreed with the Secretary
of State for Transport.
• By 31 March 2014 to have posted the Contract Notice in the
Official Journal of the European Union to start the tendering
process for a collaborative GLA helicopter contract to harmonise
the requirements for helicopter services across the GLAs to
achieve greater efficiencies and financial savings.
The revised Joint Navigation
Requirements Policies (JNRP). The
purpose of this document is twofold.
First, it records in one publication the
joint approach for the GLAs in
navigational matters, to meet their
statutory duties and for the purpose of
planning and managing a cost effective
Aids to Navigation (AtoN) service.
Second, the publication provides the
members of the Joint User Consultative
Group (JUCG) with information
regarding the GLAs AtoN provision.
This document is only available
electronically from the Board’s
website at www.nlb.org.uk within
the Joint Policy section and may
be updated from time to time.
The Radio Navigation
Plan focuses on the role
of radionavigation in the
overall AtoN service provision mix,
particularly in support of future eNavigation services. This will
assist the service user in
planning deployment of
equipment
and
manufacturers in their new
business development.
• To complete the installation works, commissioning and
acceptance into operational service of the tri-GLA re-engineered
DGPS system by 31 December 2013.
• To achieve the plan to roll out the on-line purchase,
requisition and staff travel claims processes to all teams and
sections by 31 March 2014.
• To undertake work to ensure 84 George Street provides a
comfortable, efficient and healthy place of work for all staff and
initially by relocating the Commercial Department to the old
Monitor Centre by 31 December 2013.
The Visual Aids to Navigation
Plan sets out the GLA direction
for lighthouses, beacons, major
floating aids, buoys and daymarks. The document
indicates the level of service
the GLAs will provide to all
users, taking advantage of technological
and operational improvements. It shows
the mariner what they can expect in the
GLA areas of responsibility and gives
manufacturers guidance on the products
they might wish to develop.
• To complete the second phase of property sales in 2013/14,
and to have the third and final phase of sales ready for active
marketing by 31 March 2014.
The plans are available on line at
www.nlb.org.uk/JointPolicy/
Policies/Main/
SOLAR GAINS
With poorer levels of winter sun and hence lower solar gains in a number of areas,
than have been typically experienced in the past, a group of circa 10 stations are
scheduled to have their solar panels upgraded, battery banks increased or equipment
load reduced in summer 2013. This is to enhance the number of days the stations are
able to operate in overcast conditions with close to no solar energy supply or to
increase their rate of recovery during periods when the solar system is producing
power. The stations that were deemed to be the priorities in this respect were
generally identified based on their performance, from data provided by the remote
monitoring system, as to battery voltages at the stations.
Northern Lighthouse Board - Littoral Lights Summer 2013
7
CORSEWALL LIGHTHOUSE BY IMAGE BY IAN COWE
INIS Hydro
LIGHTHOUSE ENGINEERING
MAINTENANCE
uring 2012 the lighthouses at Port Ellen, Eilean Glas and
Loch Indaal were repainted. This years major
maintenance painting works will cover the stations at
Cantick Head, Fair Isle North, North Ronaldsay, Muckle Flugga
and Corsewall (Pictured).These works will be conducted by the
current NLB Term Maintenance painting contractor Trac. In
addition a number of smaller painting packages are scheduled
to be conducted at Earls Hill (one of our DGPS sites near
Stirling), Scarinish and Vaternish.
During the winter of 2012/13 there was a higher than
normal level of instances of severe weather, with substantial
mains power outages and restricted access due to snow in the
south west and storm damage by wave action at both Fair Isle
South and Buchan Ness lighthouses. Despite the unusual
weather, all of the affected lights continued to operate as
required except at Davaar where an outage occurred.
Repair works were required at Fair Isle South where the
wave action damaged part of the boundary wall and a significant
amount of sea water entered the main engine room through a
window that was damaged in the incident.Temporary repairs to
the AtoN systems were promptly conducted and survey work
is scheduled to address the longer term wall and engine room
repair requirements.
D
INIS Hydro (Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish Hydrography
Project) is a partnership of public bodies, headed by the
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) which successfully
bid for EU funding from the Special EU Programmes Body as
part of the INTERREG IVA Programme (www.seupb.eu). The
INTERREG IVA Programme overall is worth €256 million of
which INIS Hydro was awarded some €3 million.
The areas which were mapped had not been surveyed
previously using modern hydrographic techniques so the aims
are to provide updated bathymetric charts and a baseline
data set for a range of marine environments in Dundalk Bay,
Carlingford Lough, Dundrum Bay, the Firth of Lorn and off the
Mull of Kintyre. This will contribute to fulfilment of Safety of
Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements and to the coastal
environmental management and development strategies of
the partner regions. The Project will develop a standard
international methodology for conducting hydrographic
surveys to UKHO Order 1A which will contribute to long term
improvements in data collection, storage and dissemination.
NLV POLE STAR mobilised on 10th October 2012 from the
Northern Lighthouse Board’s base in Oban with a
Hydrography team to operate the vessel’s hull mounted
Kongsberg EM3002 multibeam equipment.
The survey area sits on the east side of the North Channel
between the Mull of Kintyre peninsula and the main traffic
separation scheme between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The area is a challenging one to survey, being open to the
prevailing south westerlies driving in a persistent Atlantic
swell and subject to localised tidal streams of up to 9 knots.
By the time the survey period was completed on 7th
November POLE STAR had completed 91% of the tasking at
sea. The final survey report has been submitted to and
accepted by the UKHO.
This project is partfinanced by the European
Union’s European
Regional Development
Fund through the
INTERREG IVA Crossborder Programme
managed by the Special
EU Programmes Body.
The Northern Lighthouse Board is certificated to:BS-EN-ISO 9001:2008 –
Quality Management Systems
BS-OHSAS 18001:2007 –
Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems
BS-EN-ISO 14001:2004 –
Environmental Management Systems
BS-ISO/IEC 27001:2005 –
Information Security Management Systems
Find us on
Northern Lighthouse Board - Littoral Lights Summer 2013
8