Letter from the Chief Executive
IN 1999 IRISH LIGHTS will have a new Chairman. Mr Michael
Maclaran will take over from Mr Michael O'Neill on 1st January. Mr
Maclaran is involved in a number of marine industry activities and
his wide experience of the industry will be of great benefit to the
Service in the coming years.
I should like to thank Michael O'Neill for his major contribution to the direction of the Commissioners of Irish Lights since 1996. In a period of rapid change he has given much time and thought to ensuring that the best qualities of Irish Lights' past are not forgotten in the planning and push to build the future shape of the Service.
A word of thanks also goes to Morgan McStay who has retired as Engineer-in-Chief. We wish his successor, Dr Stuart Ruttle, well in this challenging job.
During 1999 we look forward to the delivery of our new state-of-the-art 80 metre Aids to Navigation Service Vessel. The new ship is being built by Damen Shipyards of Holland and should significantly increase the offshore service capability of Irish Lights. With new legislation now in place we look forward to providing a range of contract services to Harbour Authorities and other bodies in the marine sector, as well as servicing all Irish Lights Aids to Navigation.
The growing awareness of the importance of preserving a clean and healthy environment is now impacting on the activities of all service and manufacturing organisations. Implementing alternative energy programmes and the rigid control of waste disposal are two challenges facing the Service right now.
We in the Commissioners of Irish Lights have been in the wind, wave, and solar fields for many years and have gained much valuable experience.
Solar energy systems have made big advances in recent years and have now become the standard power sources of almost all buoys and of many offshore lights.
The next few years will see an extension of these programmes.
Marine Radionavigation is changing rapidly. In February 1999 the traditional Medium Frequency Radiobeacon Service will cease world wide and be replaced by more accurate radio systems feeding the new gmdss (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System).
During 1998 the Commissioners commissioned the very accurate radio navigation and integrity monitoring system called dgps (Differential Global Positioning System). This system provides real time corrections to gps broadcast positions provided by the USA Department of Defense system.
Another major change occurs in early 2000 when the Decca Navigator System will be discontinued.
Unfortunately, the European Loran-C and the com-bined gps/Loran system called eurofix are progressing slowly, as are the European satellite programmes egnos (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) and gnss2 (Global Navigation Satellite System 2).
We look forward to the next few years with the confidence that Irish Lights will continue to provide a quality service to the ever increasing volume of shipping and other craft navigating in the seas around Ireland. I wish you all a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 1999.
T. M. BOYD
Chief Executive
I should like to thank Michael O'Neill for his major contribution to the direction of the Commissioners of Irish Lights since 1996. In a period of rapid change he has given much time and thought to ensuring that the best qualities of Irish Lights' past are not forgotten in the planning and push to build the future shape of the Service.
A word of thanks also goes to Morgan McStay who has retired as Engineer-in-Chief. We wish his successor, Dr Stuart Ruttle, well in this challenging job.
During 1999 we look forward to the delivery of our new state-of-the-art 80 metre Aids to Navigation Service Vessel. The new ship is being built by Damen Shipyards of Holland and should significantly increase the offshore service capability of Irish Lights. With new legislation now in place we look forward to providing a range of contract services to Harbour Authorities and other bodies in the marine sector, as well as servicing all Irish Lights Aids to Navigation.
The growing awareness of the importance of preserving a clean and healthy environment is now impacting on the activities of all service and manufacturing organisations. Implementing alternative energy programmes and the rigid control of waste disposal are two challenges facing the Service right now.
We in the Commissioners of Irish Lights have been in the wind, wave, and solar fields for many years and have gained much valuable experience.
Solar energy systems have made big advances in recent years and have now become the standard power sources of almost all buoys and of many offshore lights.
The next few years will see an extension of these programmes.
Marine Radionavigation is changing rapidly. In February 1999 the traditional Medium Frequency Radiobeacon Service will cease world wide and be replaced by more accurate radio systems feeding the new gmdss (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System).
During 1998 the Commissioners commissioned the very accurate radio navigation and integrity monitoring system called dgps (Differential Global Positioning System). This system provides real time corrections to gps broadcast positions provided by the USA Department of Defense system.
Another major change occurs in early 2000 when the Decca Navigator System will be discontinued.
Unfortunately, the European Loran-C and the com-bined gps/Loran system called eurofix are progressing slowly, as are the European satellite programmes egnos (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) and gnss2 (Global Navigation Satellite System 2).
We look forward to the next few years with the confidence that Irish Lights will continue to provide a quality service to the ever increasing volume of shipping and other craft navigating in the seas around Ireland. I wish you all a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 1999.
T. M. BOYD
Chief Executive