Light Dues
The Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) is a "not for profit"
organisation and, along with Trinity House and the Northern
Lighthouse Board, derives its income mainly from the charging of
light dues on commercial shipping entering British and Irish ports.
Additionally fishing vessels in Northern Ireland are charged an
annual light due payment consistent with UK fishing vessel owners.
The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of CIL, Trinity
House (TH), and Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) operate an
integrated system of aids to navigation around Britain and
Ireland.
The current rates for Light Dues on commercial vessels as of 1st April 2010 are:
UK and Northern Ireland 41 pence per tonne (sterling)
Republic of Ireland 60 cent per tonne (euro)
The rate is applied to the net registered tonnage (NRT) of the vessel.There is a minimum and maximum payment. A tonnage cap of 40,000 tonnes applies.
The Minister for Transport reviews the rate for Ireland annually under an Order of Section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Act, 1983. See link below.
Regular traffic into ports in Ireland and the UK are obliged to pay for a maximum of 9 voyages a year.
The current rates for Light Dues on commercial vessels as of 1st April 2010 are:
UK and Northern Ireland 41 pence per tonne (sterling)
Republic of Ireland 60 cent per tonne (euro)
The rate is applied to the net registered tonnage (NRT) of the vessel.There is a minimum and maximum payment. A tonnage cap of 40,000 tonnes applies.
The Minister for Transport reviews the rate for Ireland annually under an Order of Section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Act, 1983. See link below.
Regular traffic into ports in Ireland and the UK are obliged to pay for a maximum of 9 voyages a year.
The GLAs also operate a unified policy and collection
system, which operates throughout the British Isles.
All Light Dues collected in the UK and Ireland are "pooled" in a central fund called the General Lighthouse Fund (GLF). The Secretary of State in the Department for Transport in London administers this fund. Operating funds are released to Trinity House, Northern Lighthouse Board and Commissioners of Irish Lights from the GLF. Under an agreement reached between the Irish and UK Authorities in 1985, Light Dues collected at Irish Ports are supplemented by an annual Irish Government Exchequer contribution to the General Lighthouse Fund.
All Light Dues collected in the UK and Ireland are "pooled" in a central fund called the General Lighthouse Fund (GLF). The Secretary of State in the Department for Transport in London administers this fund. Operating funds are released to Trinity House, Northern Lighthouse Board and Commissioners of Irish Lights from the GLF. Under an agreement reached between the Irish and UK Authorities in 1985, Light Dues collected at Irish Ports are supplemented by an annual Irish Government Exchequer contribution to the General Lighthouse Fund.