Tue, 19 Jul 2011
The General Lighthouse Authorities for the UK & Ireland’s marine Aids to Navigation document ‘2025 & Beyond’ was launched yesterday by the Shipping Minister, Mike Penning.
The document clearly outlines how Trinity House, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights will fulfil their shared mission of ‘delivering a reliable, efficient and cost effective aids to navigation service for the benefit and safety of all mariners’ over the next two decades.
Since the publication of the GLA’s last strategy document ‘2020 The Vision’ in 2004, the global maritime risk to life, property and the marine environment has continued to increase. The GLA’s core aim is to ensure safety of navigation by continuing to provide a balanced mix of physical and radio aids to navigation. Technology has improved the level of service that the GLAs can provide. For example AIS provides a very important tool to assess future navigation needs around our coasts. Improved LEDs and solar panels, coupled with longer life batteries, have also allowed significant improvements.
The GLAs are at the forefront of these advances and fully support the International Maritime Organisation’s objective to provide eNavigation and related services – the future of coastal navigation.
When delivered, this strategy will continue to mitigate risk; it will provide for safety of navigation, and the protection of life, property and the vulnerable marine environment.
The full document can be downloaded (PDF will open in a new window).
The launch took place in Tower Hill,
