International Lighthouse Conference
A summary of IALA Conference proceedings by the
Editor
'We sometimes forget that the Titanic sank not because the
technology to save her did not exist, but because it was not
applied.
It was known that the ship did not have enough lifeboats, that radio was not mandatory on all ships, that there were no restrictions on operating within the range of icebergs. All the changes that were made in the first Safety of Life at Sea Convention adopted after the accident could have been made before it occurred. The reason that nothing was done was because no one took the dangers seriously enough. And so, 1,500 people died . . .
All too often change has resulted from tragedy. The Titanic, the Torrey Canyon, the Amoco Cadiz, the Exxon Valdez, the Herald of Free Enterprise, the Estonia: they all resulted in improvements being made, but at a terrible cost. . . . Let us take action before we are forced to.'
--William O'Neill, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, speaking at the IALA Conference.
IALA, the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, has decided to change its name to International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. The acronym iala will be retained.
This was just one of the changes in the organisation's new constitution adopted by the General Assembly of iala at its Conference held in Hamburg in June 1998. The new name recognises the importance of radio aids to navigation, vessel traffic services, and new technology not clearly reflected in the old name. The new constitution has a clearer structure, redefines the various categories of membership, and elaborates on the main objects of the iala Committees. Inland waterways have been added to the scope of the Association. iala will remain a non-governmental organisation.
Improving Safety at Sea
Addressing the Opening Session of the Conference, William O'Neill, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, said in his keynote speech that while lighthouses still had a part to play, automatic identification systems, vessel traffic services, electronic positioning systems, electronic charts, and many other innovations had great possibilities for improving safety at sea. They were all products of the tremendous revolution in technology which seemed to be accelerating all the time.
'But I sometimes wonder if we, the people who are involved in shipping, are ourselves changing at a corresponding rate. Ours is an ancient industry. It goes back thousands, not hundreds, of years and during that time it has accumulated practices and traditions which are often a source of pride but which sometimes resemble the barnacles and weeds that grow on a ship's hull and impede its progress.
'It is not sufficient to just develop new technology because to use it effectively we must also develop new attitudes. That means giving up some of the traditional systems and practices that have become ingrained over time. For instance those of us who have been engaged in Aids to Navigation know of the political and emotional difficulties which have been experienced in introducing modern technology and moving to unmanned lighthouses. Another touchy area is the concept of the freedom of seas, which is sometimes taken as the right of ships to sail wherever and do whatever they like. But with an increasing number of large ships carrying all sorts of potentially dangerous cargoes it is obvious that certain restraints have to be introduced.
'Every so often a major spill occurs which reminds us of our planet's vulnerability to pollution. A dramatic mid-ocean rescue shows us how much we rely on each other and on systems developed for our mutual protection. And all the time technology is developing, and offers us new possibilities and better methods.'
Mr O'Neill said that modern technology could be used in a positive way and concluded by expressing confidence in the expertise of iala and its importance to maritime safety.
Strategy
Dr Ulrich Klinge, incoming President of the Association, spoke on iala's strategy for the future. Lighthouse Authorities were facing rapid and dramatic changes. Budgets were suffering from serious constraints while the demand for quality of services was rising. Authorities were required to do more and perform better with less staff. Lean management, analysis of return on assets, and cost benefit ratios had become part of the planning process; and new technologies, particularly radio aids to navigation and vessel traffic services, entailed the need for advanced structures. Authorities which had adapted their organisations to meet these requirements had found that the process, once initiated, turned out to be unstoppable and permanent.
Standards
Dr Klinge said that shipping and the provision of Aids to Navigation had international features which demanded world-wide standardisation. The Aids to Navigation infrastructure could not be planned, installed and operated without being based on internationally agreed standards. Agreed technical standards would help Aids to Navigation authorities to plan and implement work, reduce costs, guarantee the same quality of service everywhere, clarify what mariners could expect, and enable manufacturers to produce efficient equipment at reasonable cost.
Michael Maclaran and Mel Boyd at the IALA Conference
Challenges
Looking to the 21st century Dr Klinge identified the major developments and trends to be expected:
* We are entering a world of global markets and trades. * Trade increases more rapidly than industrial production. * The transport of goods and passengers must be organised in a fast and punctual manner. * The emergence of the information and communication age is leading to dramatic changes in the way that marine traffic is managed. Marine traffic will become more organised and regulated, much like aviation. * The rate of technological innovation and the renewal of systems is accelerating. * Serious accidents have lost their local character. Today's requirement is for a modern Aids to Navigation infrastructure aiming at the complete avoidance of any accidents as far as this is possible through land based systems technology. Safety of navigation is also an essential prerequisite for the protection of the natural environment.
'IALA should play the leading role in the global development, harmonisation, and standardisation of Aids to Navigation to ensure safe and efficient traffic at sea and on inland waters', Dr Klinge concluded.
Irish Lights Participation
Attending throughout the conference on behalf of Irish Lights were Mel Boyd (Chief Executive), Stuart Ruttle (Deputy Engineer-in-Chief) who was Chairman of the iala Radionavigation Committee from 1995 to 1998, and Seamus Doyle (Engineering Manager, Electrical).
In addition, conference sessions were attended by Michael O'Neill (Chairman), Michael Maclaren (Vice-Chairman), Commodore Liam Moloney (Deputy Vice-Chairman), Sheila Tyrrell (Commissioner), Morgan McStay (Engineer-in-Chief), Capt. Shay Hickey (Inspector & Marine Superintendent), Capt. Kieran O'Higgins (Deputy Inspector), Michael Taylor (Engineering Manager, Civil), and Alan McCann (Engineering Operations Manager, Mechanical).
Dr Stuart Ruttle gave a review of the work of the iala Radionavigation Committee since the 1994 Conference. Owing to his recent appointment as Engineer-in-Chief of Irish Lights Dr Ruttle relinquished his membership of the Radionavigation Committee at the end of the Conference.
IALA Officers
The General Assembly elected the following officers for 1998-2002-- President: Dr Ulrich Klinge (Germany) Vice-President: Alan Smart (Australia) Treasurer: Mel Boyd (Ireland)
Technical Sessions
An important aspect of the iala Conference is the exchange of information through discussion of technical papers on a variety of management, operational and engineering topics. Subjects covered in the papers presented included cost-effective maintenance of Aids to Navigation; funding arrangements; tender and work-boat operations; planning the future mix of Aids to Navigation; buoy maintenance and design; the use of solar, wind and wave power in Aids to Navigation; remote control and monitoring; radio aids; and the preservation of historic lighthouses. Representatives from Irish Lights presented papers on--
* Evaluation of Reliability Centred Maintenance--Alan McCann * The design of a new multi-functional Buoy Tender--Capt. John Hickey * Design and operation of wind generating systems in the Irish Lighthouse Service--Seamus Doyle * Design and installation of a daytime leading lights system--Seamus Doyle * Active radar target enhancers for buoy radar signature enhancement--Seamus Doyle
Technical Visits
During the Conference there were a number of excellent technical visits. Delegates travelled down the Elbe to the impressive vessel traffic services centre at Brunsbüttel at the mouth of the Kiel Canal. Delegates also visited German, Dutch, American, and Canadian Coast Guard vessels and attended a barbeque and technical visit to the Wedel buoy yard. Very heavy rain curtailed the technical aspect of this event. Instead delegates concentrated on the social aspect and the finer qualities of the German beer and music.
Dr Stuart Ruttle, who was appointed Engineer-in-Chief from 12 October 1998, has been elected Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation in recognition of his many significant contributions to maritime radio-navigation, particularly the harmonisation of radionavigation policy for the General Light-house Authorities.
IALA Conference Conclusions
Resulting from the presentations made during the technical sessions and the ensuing discussions, the Conference reached the following conclusions:
1. A more accurate definition of the levels of service, which includes reference to the related risk assessment, is needed. Any changes in levels of service should be well planned and well executed, with different methodology being assessed to determine the most appropriate for the particular area concerned. User groups should be properly consulted and made aware of the reliability of proposed new arrangements and how the systems would operate.
2. Cost effectiveness and cost efficiency are real problems facing Aids to Navigation Authorities today, not just changes in technology. This and the need to improve liaison with partners to better reflect their requirements are impacting on the management cultures of services.
3. Marking arrangements to be used to mark a wreck within a Traffic Separation Scheme should be defined as a matter of priority.
4. Guidance should be prepared for member Authorities on the development, implementation and operation of maintenance management systems and quality assurance procedures.
5. Guidance should be prepared for member Auth-orities on the methods which could be used to complement solar energy. This should include a description of the suitability of the various complementary sources of power for various geographical areas and meteorological conditions as well as a broad cost-benefit analysis for each possible arrangement.
6. The possible use, and the operational advantages and disadvantages, of laser technology for leading lights should be studied and, if appropriate, guidance prepared for member Authorities.
7. The effect of the introduction of sophisticated technology, eg: dgnss, ais and ecdis into vts centres and areas should be studied and appropriate amendments introduced into iala's vts Manual.
8. The use of radars to monitor sea states and currents in real time should be followed to determine the possible benefit of this development to Vessel Traffic Services.
9. The training of vts personnel is considered to be critical and the Association should continue to take a lead in this matter and should endeavour to ensure that adequate standards of competence are implemented on a world-wide basis.
10. Development of Automatic Identification Systems is proceeding rapidly and many possible applications are foreseen. However, compatibility with existing vts systems, particular radar, needs to be considered.
11. The maritime community needs to be involved in the planning and development of gps/glonass and the move towards the future gnss.
12. Differential gnss services using the radiobeacon band are in use or planned world wide and issues such as availability and coverage prediction need to be resolved. Complementary use of existing systems, such as gps and Loran-C would be a valuable interim step on the road to a civil global navigation satellite system.
13. There is a continuing requirement for radar aids to navigation, from passive reflectors through active enhancement to radar beacons. However, increasing integration of radar with other navigation displays could necessitate a review of the technology used.
The IALA Conference is held every four years. The main work of iala is carried out through Committees which meet more frequently. The next Conference will be in Sydney in 2002.
It was known that the ship did not have enough lifeboats, that radio was not mandatory on all ships, that there were no restrictions on operating within the range of icebergs. All the changes that were made in the first Safety of Life at Sea Convention adopted after the accident could have been made before it occurred. The reason that nothing was done was because no one took the dangers seriously enough. And so, 1,500 people died . . .
All too often change has resulted from tragedy. The Titanic, the Torrey Canyon, the Amoco Cadiz, the Exxon Valdez, the Herald of Free Enterprise, the Estonia: they all resulted in improvements being made, but at a terrible cost. . . . Let us take action before we are forced to.'
--William O'Neill, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, speaking at the IALA Conference.
IALA, the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, has decided to change its name to International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. The acronym iala will be retained.
This was just one of the changes in the organisation's new constitution adopted by the General Assembly of iala at its Conference held in Hamburg in June 1998. The new name recognises the importance of radio aids to navigation, vessel traffic services, and new technology not clearly reflected in the old name. The new constitution has a clearer structure, redefines the various categories of membership, and elaborates on the main objects of the iala Committees. Inland waterways have been added to the scope of the Association. iala will remain a non-governmental organisation.
Improving Safety at Sea
Addressing the Opening Session of the Conference, William O'Neill, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, said in his keynote speech that while lighthouses still had a part to play, automatic identification systems, vessel traffic services, electronic positioning systems, electronic charts, and many other innovations had great possibilities for improving safety at sea. They were all products of the tremendous revolution in technology which seemed to be accelerating all the time.
'But I sometimes wonder if we, the people who are involved in shipping, are ourselves changing at a corresponding rate. Ours is an ancient industry. It goes back thousands, not hundreds, of years and during that time it has accumulated practices and traditions which are often a source of pride but which sometimes resemble the barnacles and weeds that grow on a ship's hull and impede its progress.
'It is not sufficient to just develop new technology because to use it effectively we must also develop new attitudes. That means giving up some of the traditional systems and practices that have become ingrained over time. For instance those of us who have been engaged in Aids to Navigation know of the political and emotional difficulties which have been experienced in introducing modern technology and moving to unmanned lighthouses. Another touchy area is the concept of the freedom of seas, which is sometimes taken as the right of ships to sail wherever and do whatever they like. But with an increasing number of large ships carrying all sorts of potentially dangerous cargoes it is obvious that certain restraints have to be introduced.
'Every so often a major spill occurs which reminds us of our planet's vulnerability to pollution. A dramatic mid-ocean rescue shows us how much we rely on each other and on systems developed for our mutual protection. And all the time technology is developing, and offers us new possibilities and better methods.'
Mr O'Neill said that modern technology could be used in a positive way and concluded by expressing confidence in the expertise of iala and its importance to maritime safety.
Strategy
Dr Ulrich Klinge, incoming President of the Association, spoke on iala's strategy for the future. Lighthouse Authorities were facing rapid and dramatic changes. Budgets were suffering from serious constraints while the demand for quality of services was rising. Authorities were required to do more and perform better with less staff. Lean management, analysis of return on assets, and cost benefit ratios had become part of the planning process; and new technologies, particularly radio aids to navigation and vessel traffic services, entailed the need for advanced structures. Authorities which had adapted their organisations to meet these requirements had found that the process, once initiated, turned out to be unstoppable and permanent.
Standards
Dr Klinge said that shipping and the provision of Aids to Navigation had international features which demanded world-wide standardisation. The Aids to Navigation infrastructure could not be planned, installed and operated without being based on internationally agreed standards. Agreed technical standards would help Aids to Navigation authorities to plan and implement work, reduce costs, guarantee the same quality of service everywhere, clarify what mariners could expect, and enable manufacturers to produce efficient equipment at reasonable cost.
Michael Maclaran and Mel Boyd at the IALA Conference
Challenges
Looking to the 21st century Dr Klinge identified the major developments and trends to be expected:
* We are entering a world of global markets and trades. * Trade increases more rapidly than industrial production. * The transport of goods and passengers must be organised in a fast and punctual manner. * The emergence of the information and communication age is leading to dramatic changes in the way that marine traffic is managed. Marine traffic will become more organised and regulated, much like aviation. * The rate of technological innovation and the renewal of systems is accelerating. * Serious accidents have lost their local character. Today's requirement is for a modern Aids to Navigation infrastructure aiming at the complete avoidance of any accidents as far as this is possible through land based systems technology. Safety of navigation is also an essential prerequisite for the protection of the natural environment.
'IALA should play the leading role in the global development, harmonisation, and standardisation of Aids to Navigation to ensure safe and efficient traffic at sea and on inland waters', Dr Klinge concluded.
Irish Lights Participation
Attending throughout the conference on behalf of Irish Lights were Mel Boyd (Chief Executive), Stuart Ruttle (Deputy Engineer-in-Chief) who was Chairman of the iala Radionavigation Committee from 1995 to 1998, and Seamus Doyle (Engineering Manager, Electrical).
In addition, conference sessions were attended by Michael O'Neill (Chairman), Michael Maclaren (Vice-Chairman), Commodore Liam Moloney (Deputy Vice-Chairman), Sheila Tyrrell (Commissioner), Morgan McStay (Engineer-in-Chief), Capt. Shay Hickey (Inspector & Marine Superintendent), Capt. Kieran O'Higgins (Deputy Inspector), Michael Taylor (Engineering Manager, Civil), and Alan McCann (Engineering Operations Manager, Mechanical).
Dr Stuart Ruttle gave a review of the work of the iala Radionavigation Committee since the 1994 Conference. Owing to his recent appointment as Engineer-in-Chief of Irish Lights Dr Ruttle relinquished his membership of the Radionavigation Committee at the end of the Conference.
IALA Officers
The General Assembly elected the following officers for 1998-2002-- President: Dr Ulrich Klinge (Germany) Vice-President: Alan Smart (Australia) Treasurer: Mel Boyd (Ireland)
Technical Sessions
An important aspect of the iala Conference is the exchange of information through discussion of technical papers on a variety of management, operational and engineering topics. Subjects covered in the papers presented included cost-effective maintenance of Aids to Navigation; funding arrangements; tender and work-boat operations; planning the future mix of Aids to Navigation; buoy maintenance and design; the use of solar, wind and wave power in Aids to Navigation; remote control and monitoring; radio aids; and the preservation of historic lighthouses. Representatives from Irish Lights presented papers on--
* Evaluation of Reliability Centred Maintenance--Alan McCann * The design of a new multi-functional Buoy Tender--Capt. John Hickey * Design and operation of wind generating systems in the Irish Lighthouse Service--Seamus Doyle * Design and installation of a daytime leading lights system--Seamus Doyle * Active radar target enhancers for buoy radar signature enhancement--Seamus Doyle
Technical Visits
During the Conference there were a number of excellent technical visits. Delegates travelled down the Elbe to the impressive vessel traffic services centre at Brunsbüttel at the mouth of the Kiel Canal. Delegates also visited German, Dutch, American, and Canadian Coast Guard vessels and attended a barbeque and technical visit to the Wedel buoy yard. Very heavy rain curtailed the technical aspect of this event. Instead delegates concentrated on the social aspect and the finer qualities of the German beer and music.
Dr Stuart Ruttle, who was appointed Engineer-in-Chief from 12 October 1998, has been elected Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation in recognition of his many significant contributions to maritime radio-navigation, particularly the harmonisation of radionavigation policy for the General Light-house Authorities.
IALA Conference Conclusions
Resulting from the presentations made during the technical sessions and the ensuing discussions, the Conference reached the following conclusions:
1. A more accurate definition of the levels of service, which includes reference to the related risk assessment, is needed. Any changes in levels of service should be well planned and well executed, with different methodology being assessed to determine the most appropriate for the particular area concerned. User groups should be properly consulted and made aware of the reliability of proposed new arrangements and how the systems would operate.
2. Cost effectiveness and cost efficiency are real problems facing Aids to Navigation Authorities today, not just changes in technology. This and the need to improve liaison with partners to better reflect their requirements are impacting on the management cultures of services.
3. Marking arrangements to be used to mark a wreck within a Traffic Separation Scheme should be defined as a matter of priority.
4. Guidance should be prepared for member Authorities on the development, implementation and operation of maintenance management systems and quality assurance procedures.
5. Guidance should be prepared for member Auth-orities on the methods which could be used to complement solar energy. This should include a description of the suitability of the various complementary sources of power for various geographical areas and meteorological conditions as well as a broad cost-benefit analysis for each possible arrangement.
6. The possible use, and the operational advantages and disadvantages, of laser technology for leading lights should be studied and, if appropriate, guidance prepared for member Authorities.
7. The effect of the introduction of sophisticated technology, eg: dgnss, ais and ecdis into vts centres and areas should be studied and appropriate amendments introduced into iala's vts Manual.
8. The use of radars to monitor sea states and currents in real time should be followed to determine the possible benefit of this development to Vessel Traffic Services.
9. The training of vts personnel is considered to be critical and the Association should continue to take a lead in this matter and should endeavour to ensure that adequate standards of competence are implemented on a world-wide basis.
10. Development of Automatic Identification Systems is proceeding rapidly and many possible applications are foreseen. However, compatibility with existing vts systems, particular radar, needs to be considered.
11. The maritime community needs to be involved in the planning and development of gps/glonass and the move towards the future gnss.
12. Differential gnss services using the radiobeacon band are in use or planned world wide and issues such as availability and coverage prediction need to be resolved. Complementary use of existing systems, such as gps and Loran-C would be a valuable interim step on the road to a civil global navigation satellite system.
13. There is a continuing requirement for radar aids to navigation, from passive reflectors through active enhancement to radar beacons. However, increasing integration of radar with other navigation displays could necessitate a review of the technology used.
The IALA Conference is held every four years. The main work of iala is carried out through Committees which meet more frequently. The next Conference will be in Sydney in 2002.