Statement by the Ministry of Transport on Atkins Report
16 March 2010
Statement by the Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel
Dempsey T.D., on the publication of the Atkins Report - Assessment
of the Provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the United
Kingdom & Ireland
The Minister for Transport positioned today's publication as
part of an ongoing process of development and modernisation of the
Irish Maritime Administration.
The publication of the Atkins Report on the Assessment of the Provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the United Kingdom and Ireland outlines a road map for changes ensuring that the Commissioners for Irish Lights (CIL) continue, alongside their UK equivalents, to be European and world leaders in delivering a reliable, efficient and cost effective AtoN (Aids to Navigation) service for the benefit and safety of all mariners in the medium-to longer-term with the economic and international prestige that this provides.
In undertaking their review, Atkins undertook an analysis of current GLA costs, internal structures, governance, operating and management practices and inter-GLA working arrangements. The review places particular emphasis on reform of the charging system for light dues and examining structural reform options to decrease costs and improve effectiveness.
The Atkins Report makes over 50 recommendations concerning the management of the GLAs, the GLF, and the charging of light dues. Key recommendations include: The creation of a GLA Joint Strategic Board to drive efficiencies; The use of an annual target reduction calculator for GLA running costs; and The development of a "roadmap" agreed between the Irish and UK Governments on the financing of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, setting out an incentivised financial model, which retains the all-Ireland body while allowing its costs within the Republic of Ireland to be covered wholly from Irish sources. The process of implementing any changes will require full consultation between both Governments and relevant stakeholders. Consequently, there will be plenty of opportunity for discussion on options, to ensure they represent the best way forward before any decisions are finalised.
The Atkins Report, which is being published today, and which will be available on the Department's website, is the latest development in an ongoing strategy for the improvement of Ireland's maritime administration.
Other developments in the modernisation of Ireland's maritime administration include:
The enactment of the Merchant Shipping Bill aimed at improving safety at sea; · Further development of the new Vessel Registration Bill, which is intended to modernise provisions for vessel registration taking account of safety, security and environmental considerations. · Improved capacity in the Marine Survey Office's capability for inspections of vessels. · The undertaking of a new ten year contract for the provision of the Irish Coast Guard's helicopter search and rescue service. · Commissioning of new radio equipment for the Irish Coast Guard. · The Irish Maritime Administration will partake in an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) audit this year under the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS), which will benchmark the Administration in terms of IMO best practice.
ENDS
NOTE FOR EDITORS
In September 2009, Atkins was tasked by the Department of Transport in Ireland and the Department for Transport in the UK, to carry out an independent assessment of the provision of aids to navigation, such as lighthouses and navigation buoys, around the coasts of Ireland and Britain.
The aim of the assessment was to examine current structures and practices and set out recommendations in relation to the ongoing provision of reliable, efficient and cost-effective AtoN services, operating to the highest international standards, for the benefit and safety of all mariners.
Ireland and the UK operate an integrated system for the provision of marine aids to navigation in order to meet our respective obligations under the UN's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.
The provision of AtoNs is undertaken by three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs): Trinity House for England and Wales, the Channel Isles and Gibraltar; the Northern Lighthouse Board for Scotland and the Isle of Man, and, the Commissioners of Irish Lights for the island of Ireland. The GLAs draw funding from a single General Lighthouse Fund (GLF) that is largely funded from Light Dues, a charge or levy on commercial shipping calling at Irish and UK ports.
Under the current charging system, light dues income derived from shipping traffic to Irish ports is less than that needed to finance the full system of lights required by Ireland's extensive coastline. This system needs to change, and the rates levels, collection and apportionment of revenues needs to be structured in the future to provide sufficient income to the GLF and allow costs appropriate to the Republic of Ireland to be covered from Irish sources.
The publication of the Atkins Report on the Assessment of the Provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the United Kingdom and Ireland outlines a road map for changes ensuring that the Commissioners for Irish Lights (CIL) continue, alongside their UK equivalents, to be European and world leaders in delivering a reliable, efficient and cost effective AtoN (Aids to Navigation) service for the benefit and safety of all mariners in the medium-to longer-term with the economic and international prestige that this provides.
In undertaking their review, Atkins undertook an analysis of current GLA costs, internal structures, governance, operating and management practices and inter-GLA working arrangements. The review places particular emphasis on reform of the charging system for light dues and examining structural reform options to decrease costs and improve effectiveness.
The Atkins Report makes over 50 recommendations concerning the management of the GLAs, the GLF, and the charging of light dues. Key recommendations include: The creation of a GLA Joint Strategic Board to drive efficiencies; The use of an annual target reduction calculator for GLA running costs; and The development of a "roadmap" agreed between the Irish and UK Governments on the financing of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, setting out an incentivised financial model, which retains the all-Ireland body while allowing its costs within the Republic of Ireland to be covered wholly from Irish sources. The process of implementing any changes will require full consultation between both Governments and relevant stakeholders. Consequently, there will be plenty of opportunity for discussion on options, to ensure they represent the best way forward before any decisions are finalised.
The Atkins Report, which is being published today, and which will be available on the Department's website, is the latest development in an ongoing strategy for the improvement of Ireland's maritime administration.
Other developments in the modernisation of Ireland's maritime administration include:
The enactment of the Merchant Shipping Bill aimed at improving safety at sea; · Further development of the new Vessel Registration Bill, which is intended to modernise provisions for vessel registration taking account of safety, security and environmental considerations. · Improved capacity in the Marine Survey Office's capability for inspections of vessels. · The undertaking of a new ten year contract for the provision of the Irish Coast Guard's helicopter search and rescue service. · Commissioning of new radio equipment for the Irish Coast Guard. · The Irish Maritime Administration will partake in an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) audit this year under the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS), which will benchmark the Administration in terms of IMO best practice.
ENDS
NOTE FOR EDITORS
In September 2009, Atkins was tasked by the Department of Transport in Ireland and the Department for Transport in the UK, to carry out an independent assessment of the provision of aids to navigation, such as lighthouses and navigation buoys, around the coasts of Ireland and Britain.
The aim of the assessment was to examine current structures and practices and set out recommendations in relation to the ongoing provision of reliable, efficient and cost-effective AtoN services, operating to the highest international standards, for the benefit and safety of all mariners.
Ireland and the UK operate an integrated system for the provision of marine aids to navigation in order to meet our respective obligations under the UN's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.
The provision of AtoNs is undertaken by three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs): Trinity House for England and Wales, the Channel Isles and Gibraltar; the Northern Lighthouse Board for Scotland and the Isle of Man, and, the Commissioners of Irish Lights for the island of Ireland. The GLAs draw funding from a single General Lighthouse Fund (GLF) that is largely funded from Light Dues, a charge or levy on commercial shipping calling at Irish and UK ports.
Under the current charging system, light dues income derived from shipping traffic to Irish ports is less than that needed to finance the full system of lights required by Ireland's extensive coastline. This system needs to change, and the rates levels, collection and apportionment of revenues needs to be structured in the future to provide sufficient income to the GLF and allow costs appropriate to the Republic of Ireland to be covered from Irish sources.