Changing times
Capt. J.J. Hickey, Inspector of Lights & Marine
Superintendent
I must first pay tribute to my predecessor Capt Owen Deignan
who retired on the 30th April 1996. Owen had carefully charted our
course over the last two years while he was Head of the Marine
Department. He had a genuine concern for all aspects of the
Lighthouse Service and he was a mentor and friend to all. Perhaps
the most recognisable and frequently repeated remark about Owen is
'he's a gentleman'. We are all joined in wishing him and his wife
Terry well in their retirement.
Over the last twenty years Irish Lights has gone through so many changes that the Service must seem almost unrecognisable to some of our more mature pensioners. The revolution in navigation and automation technologies available today, together with a greater than ever commitment to provide the right level of service to the mariner through a modern cost effective organisation, has brought into focus a number of issues which come within the scope of the Marine Department.
Marine Aids to Navigation into the 21st Century
Changes in navigation technology such as electronic position fixing, digital charts, and integrated bridge systems oblige us to look ahead and try to plan for the future. Presentations on the General Lighthouse Authorities' joint document on the way ahead were given to interested groups around the country.
The written responses from all parties have been collated and have been presented to Government together with an action plan.
Tenders
Since the sale of Gray Seal, the servicing of lighthouses and buoys from the sea has been carried out by the Granuaile. Our lighthouse tender personnel have experienced great transformations in all aspects of their work. It is not only technology that has allowed the Service to operate as efficiently with one ship as it did previously with four. Credit must be given to the crew of the Granuaile as they have adapted to the changes of recent years.
However, Granuaile is coming near the end of her economic life and while her excellent service is recognised, we must look to the future and ensure that the high standards of service to the mariner are maintained.
The replacement vessel will be a new build, state of the art, multi-functional tender capable of a wide variety of tasks. This is an exciting and challenging time for the Marine Department and I have every confidence in the skills and abilities of our personnel to deliver the end product.
Inter GLA Co-Operation
Commonality of purpose, non duplication of effort, and sharing of expertise and resources are obvious cost effective measures that can be considered by the General Lighthouse Authorities in pursuit of savings and efficiency.
Ship support is one aspect of inter-Service co-operation. The Trinity House Vessel Mermaid and Northern Lighthouse Board's Pharos have been helping with Irish Lights scheduled and casualty work again during the past year. Each ship is contracted for 30 days to enable us complete our work programme. Mermaid assists in April and May in the south and south-west. Pharos assists in October and November in the north and north-west.
Exchanges of ships' officers have taken place between Trinity House and Irish Lights. This has the advantage of introducing inter-Service familiarity, both of personnel and of working practices. Exchanges with the Northern Lighthouse Board are planned, as are further exchanges with Trinity House.
Development of computer programmes for tracking the utilisation of the tenders and buoyage details are being examined by Northern Lights and Irish Lights with the aim of joint implementation.
Navigation & Hydrography
The navigating bridge of Granuaile has changed considerably in recent times. Differential GPS (satellite) precise positioning to an accuracy of better than 5 metres has changed our traditional methods of placing navigational buoys and determining the vessel's position. Overlay of an Admiralty electronic chart to the positioning plot has brought the ancient arts of navigation to the computer screen.
A hydrographic computer package has been installed on Granuaile. There were initial problems, some of which were solved when the electronics section in the Lighthouse Depot cased and downsized the equipment used in the motor boat, for ease of use and portability. The complete package is now running successfully and the Granuaile is delivering high quality hydrographic surveys as required. This is especially necessary since so many of our charts were compiled in the last century using sextant and lead-line.
Public Relations
Many compliments have been paid to our new format Beam, introduced for the first time last year.
This year also saw the publication of For the Safety of All, a 24 page booklet aimed at providing information to the general public. The ethos and constitution of the Service, information on the different responsibilities within it, and general articles on the work carried out are included. This booklet is intended to bridge the information gap that exists between the service we provide and the perceptions of the non-maritime community.
Irish Lights had stands at two exhibitions in 1996. The first was at the Naval Service 50th Anniversary celebrations in Dublin over the June Bank Holiday where the emphasis was on the maritime. Many people, including old friends, visited the stand.
The Granuaile took part in the Review of Ships by President Robinson in Cork Harbour. Later Granuaile berthed in Cork City where members of the public were allowed on board for tours conducted by the officers and ratings.
A Celebration of Irish Engineering was the theme for the RDS exhibition in October. Our stand covered the old and the newold gas apparatus side by side with demonstrations of the latest computerised Remotely Controlled Monitoring System for unwatched lighthouses. The centre-piece was the old Dun Laoghaire East optic, manufactured 100 years ago.
Loran-C
Legal problems have delayed the Loran-C project on the Loop peninsula. However, from a mariners point of view I strongly support the Irish Government's recognition of the need for an earth-based position fixing system, independent of GPS.
A civil satellite system under European control is not viable before year the 2010 or 2015, and Loran-C is required to fill the gap. Decca has been a great servant to mariners since before I went to sea but it lacks range, coverage, accuracy, and repeatability compared to Loran-C.
The Irish Minister for the Marine recognised these shortcomings when he signed the Northwest European Loran-C System agreement with other European countries.
New Lights
The lower Shannon is a recognised as a major harbour of refuge on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. The Commissioners of Irish Lights plan to provide a pair of Leading Lights at Querrin Pier and Corlis Point to assist ships through the channel entrance at Kilcredaun Head. This is especially important for larger vessels as the channel is relatively narrow at this point.
Wrecks
The marking of wrecks outside of port or harbour limits also comes under the remit of the Commissioners. Wrecks are swept to determine the exact clearance over them. If necessary, wrecks may be dispersed if they constitute a danger to general navigation.
The Rose of Lough Gill sank this year off Greystones, on the main route from Wicklow to Dublin. It was initially marked with a wreck buoy pending salvage by the owners but eventually had to be dispersed by the Granuaile.
Helicopter Operations
Our current contract with Irish Helicopters Ltd commenced on 1st April 1995 and has anoteher year to run before the requirement to go to tender again. The change from a two weekly to a three weekly schedule to allow more time for planned station maintenance has been a success.
Recent marshalling and under-slinging courses, publication of our safety and communications policy, and revision of the briefing video, help ensure a continued high standard of safety.
Lightkeepers
March 1996 saw the automation of Mew Island and Hook Head and the withdrawal of the Keepers. Both occasions generated a huge amount of media attention and public interest. The Pat Kenny Show featured the event in a live radio broadcast from Hook Head.
One of the most commonly asked questions is 'if Lightkeepers are withdrawn, is this not a diminution of safety?' The physical lookout and, in latter times, the radio listening watch kept by Lightkeepers were valuable and contributed to safety at sea. However, coastwatching duties were never within the remit of the General Lighthouse Authorities.
April 1997 will see the automation of the Baily Lighthouse and the withdrawal of the last Lightkeepers, thus ending a tradition that has been in existence for hundreds of years. It will no doubt be a media day, but I want to take this opportunity to thank all the Keepers of the lights, past and present, for their service.
I am glad that some ex-Lightkeepers will continue their association with the Service as Attendants at automated stations. In most cases however, they will no longer be living at the lighthouse. The presence of these Lightkeepers will be missed. As a mariner I know the difference they made.
Over the last twenty years Irish Lights has gone through so many changes that the Service must seem almost unrecognisable to some of our more mature pensioners. The revolution in navigation and automation technologies available today, together with a greater than ever commitment to provide the right level of service to the mariner through a modern cost effective organisation, has brought into focus a number of issues which come within the scope of the Marine Department.
Marine Aids to Navigation into the 21st Century
Changes in navigation technology such as electronic position fixing, digital charts, and integrated bridge systems oblige us to look ahead and try to plan for the future. Presentations on the General Lighthouse Authorities' joint document on the way ahead were given to interested groups around the country.
The written responses from all parties have been collated and have been presented to Government together with an action plan.
Tenders
Since the sale of Gray Seal, the servicing of lighthouses and buoys from the sea has been carried out by the Granuaile. Our lighthouse tender personnel have experienced great transformations in all aspects of their work. It is not only technology that has allowed the Service to operate as efficiently with one ship as it did previously with four. Credit must be given to the crew of the Granuaile as they have adapted to the changes of recent years.
However, Granuaile is coming near the end of her economic life and while her excellent service is recognised, we must look to the future and ensure that the high standards of service to the mariner are maintained.
The replacement vessel will be a new build, state of the art, multi-functional tender capable of a wide variety of tasks. This is an exciting and challenging time for the Marine Department and I have every confidence in the skills and abilities of our personnel to deliver the end product.
Inter GLA Co-Operation
Commonality of purpose, non duplication of effort, and sharing of expertise and resources are obvious cost effective measures that can be considered by the General Lighthouse Authorities in pursuit of savings and efficiency.
Ship support is one aspect of inter-Service co-operation. The Trinity House Vessel Mermaid and Northern Lighthouse Board's Pharos have been helping with Irish Lights scheduled and casualty work again during the past year. Each ship is contracted for 30 days to enable us complete our work programme. Mermaid assists in April and May in the south and south-west. Pharos assists in October and November in the north and north-west.
Exchanges of ships' officers have taken place between Trinity House and Irish Lights. This has the advantage of introducing inter-Service familiarity, both of personnel and of working practices. Exchanges with the Northern Lighthouse Board are planned, as are further exchanges with Trinity House.
Development of computer programmes for tracking the utilisation of the tenders and buoyage details are being examined by Northern Lights and Irish Lights with the aim of joint implementation.
Navigation & Hydrography
The navigating bridge of Granuaile has changed considerably in recent times. Differential GPS (satellite) precise positioning to an accuracy of better than 5 metres has changed our traditional methods of placing navigational buoys and determining the vessel's position. Overlay of an Admiralty electronic chart to the positioning plot has brought the ancient arts of navigation to the computer screen.
A hydrographic computer package has been installed on Granuaile. There were initial problems, some of which were solved when the electronics section in the Lighthouse Depot cased and downsized the equipment used in the motor boat, for ease of use and portability. The complete package is now running successfully and the Granuaile is delivering high quality hydrographic surveys as required. This is especially necessary since so many of our charts were compiled in the last century using sextant and lead-line.
Public Relations
Many compliments have been paid to our new format Beam, introduced for the first time last year.
This year also saw the publication of For the Safety of All, a 24 page booklet aimed at providing information to the general public. The ethos and constitution of the Service, information on the different responsibilities within it, and general articles on the work carried out are included. This booklet is intended to bridge the information gap that exists between the service we provide and the perceptions of the non-maritime community.
Irish Lights had stands at two exhibitions in 1996. The first was at the Naval Service 50th Anniversary celebrations in Dublin over the June Bank Holiday where the emphasis was on the maritime. Many people, including old friends, visited the stand.
The Granuaile took part in the Review of Ships by President Robinson in Cork Harbour. Later Granuaile berthed in Cork City where members of the public were allowed on board for tours conducted by the officers and ratings.
A Celebration of Irish Engineering was the theme for the RDS exhibition in October. Our stand covered the old and the newold gas apparatus side by side with demonstrations of the latest computerised Remotely Controlled Monitoring System for unwatched lighthouses. The centre-piece was the old Dun Laoghaire East optic, manufactured 100 years ago.
Loran-C
Legal problems have delayed the Loran-C project on the Loop peninsula. However, from a mariners point of view I strongly support the Irish Government's recognition of the need for an earth-based position fixing system, independent of GPS.
A civil satellite system under European control is not viable before year the 2010 or 2015, and Loran-C is required to fill the gap. Decca has been a great servant to mariners since before I went to sea but it lacks range, coverage, accuracy, and repeatability compared to Loran-C.
The Irish Minister for the Marine recognised these shortcomings when he signed the Northwest European Loran-C System agreement with other European countries.
New Lights
The lower Shannon is a recognised as a major harbour of refuge on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. The Commissioners of Irish Lights plan to provide a pair of Leading Lights at Querrin Pier and Corlis Point to assist ships through the channel entrance at Kilcredaun Head. This is especially important for larger vessels as the channel is relatively narrow at this point.
Wrecks
The marking of wrecks outside of port or harbour limits also comes under the remit of the Commissioners. Wrecks are swept to determine the exact clearance over them. If necessary, wrecks may be dispersed if they constitute a danger to general navigation.
The Rose of Lough Gill sank this year off Greystones, on the main route from Wicklow to Dublin. It was initially marked with a wreck buoy pending salvage by the owners but eventually had to be dispersed by the Granuaile.
Helicopter Operations
Our current contract with Irish Helicopters Ltd commenced on 1st April 1995 and has anoteher year to run before the requirement to go to tender again. The change from a two weekly to a three weekly schedule to allow more time for planned station maintenance has been a success.
Recent marshalling and under-slinging courses, publication of our safety and communications policy, and revision of the briefing video, help ensure a continued high standard of safety.
Lightkeepers
March 1996 saw the automation of Mew Island and Hook Head and the withdrawal of the Keepers. Both occasions generated a huge amount of media attention and public interest. The Pat Kenny Show featured the event in a live radio broadcast from Hook Head.
One of the most commonly asked questions is 'if Lightkeepers are withdrawn, is this not a diminution of safety?' The physical lookout and, in latter times, the radio listening watch kept by Lightkeepers were valuable and contributed to safety at sea. However, coastwatching duties were never within the remit of the General Lighthouse Authorities.
April 1997 will see the automation of the Baily Lighthouse and the withdrawal of the last Lightkeepers, thus ending a tradition that has been in existence for hundreds of years. It will no doubt be a media day, but I want to take this opportunity to thank all the Keepers of the lights, past and present, for their service.
I am glad that some ex-Lightkeepers will continue their association with the Service as Attendants at automated stations. In most cases however, they will no longer be living at the lighthouse. The presence of these Lightkeepers will be missed. As a mariner I know the difference they made.