Events and Developments
Capt. J. J. Hickey, Inspector of Lights & Marine
Superintendent
1999 has been packed with events and developments. There have
been times when the pace of activity seemed breathless, not just in
the Marine Department, but right across the Service. Great credit
is due to everyone involved for all the hard work throughout the
year in maintaining levels of service, while coping with the
demands of introducing new systems, procedures, and
equipment.
Outside normal marine operations the preparations for the introduction into service of the new ship has been the central focus of the efforts of my Department over this period. However, I must be careful to try to give the reader an overview of our work-and, indeed, our play-over the year without over-emphasising any particular area.
ISM Certification
The Granuaile achieved International Safety Management (ism) Code certification on 14 June 1999, the first Irish registered cargo vessel to qualify. A special presentation was held on board when John Gough of Lloyd's Register presented a framed Document of Compliance to Michael Maclaran, Chairman of the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
The achievement of attaining ism accreditation should not be under-estimated. The Code demands adherence to safety and anti-pollution measures. Its introduction has permanently affected marine operations by applying best modern management standards and methodology in the area of safety management across our entire area of responsibility.
It is worth emphasising that the application of this system is not merely a matter of getting another plaque to grace the walls of my office, but an ongoing and sustained commitment to safety and quality throughout our operations.
Ship Family Days
Outside normal marine operations the preparations for the introduction into service of the new ship has been the central focus of the efforts of my Department over this period. However, I must be careful to try to give the reader an overview of our work-and, indeed, our play-over the year without over-emphasising any particular area.
ISM Certification
The Granuaile achieved International Safety Management (ism) Code certification on 14 June 1999, the first Irish registered cargo vessel to qualify. A special presentation was held on board when John Gough of Lloyd's Register presented a framed Document of Compliance to Michael Maclaran, Chairman of the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
The achievement of attaining ism accreditation should not be under-estimated. The Code demands adherence to safety and anti-pollution measures. Its introduction has permanently affected marine operations by applying best modern management standards and methodology in the area of safety management across our entire area of responsibility.
It is worth emphasising that the application of this system is not merely a matter of getting another plaque to grace the walls of my office, but an ongoing and sustained commitment to safety and quality throughout our operations.
Ship Family Days
The very successful Family Day event was repeated on 19 and 20
June 1999 when a number of shore-based Service personnel and their
families joined the ship for a day in the life of the present
Granuaile. They were able to observe ship life and some operational
work in the area of Dublin Bay. It was a wonderful opportunity to
demonstrate in real life the work of the ship and her crew and was
appreciated by all those who attended, with the possible exception
of those of more delicate constitution who, in spite of the
excellent sea conditions, experienced a touch of
sea-sickness.
Aids to Navigation Users' Consultative Committee The Irish Lights Aids to Navigation Users Group met on 29 September 1999. This is a forum of all marine navigation service stakeholders-Government Agencies representating both safety and regulatory interests, marine leisure, fishery, and commercial users. An excellent attendance allowed a very useful exchange of information where the work of the past year, plans for the coming year, and future proposals were discussed in some detail. This is an invaluable opportunity for the user community to examine and discuss the product and plans of our Service, and to make recommendations for change.
Helicopter Operations
Our contract with Irish Helicopters Ltd runs until March 2001. Early in 1999 Bristow Helicopters sold out their shareholding, and Irish Helicopters is now a wholly owned Irish company. I am pleased to say our professional working relationship is as good as ever.
The operation of the familiar Bolkow helicopter continues around the coast on a three weekly cycle, ferrying personnel and equipment, with occasional underslinging of heavy machinery, building material, and skips of ready-mix concrete.
New Europe-wide helicopter performance regulations, referred to as JAR OPS 3, are expected to come into force in the near future. The regulations are designed to ensure the highest standards of operational safety and will involve some minor changes to our operational procedures.
The Marine Department is working with Irish Helicopters and the Irish Aviation Authority to ensure that we comply fully with each aspect of these regulations, so far as lighthouse operations with the Bolkow helicopter are concerned.
Navigation Services
Thirteen official Irish Lights Notices to Mariners describing changes to the navigation services were issued in 1999, indicating the level of activity mentioned earlier. These Notices included important changes such as the lighting of six previously unlit buoys and beacons, and the solarisation of two major lights. The programme to light or remove all unlighted buoys on the Irish coast will be completed in year 2001 while the search for, and installation of, more energy efficient power systems for offshore lighthouses continues. The Medium Frequency Radiobeacon service from eight stations was discontinued on 1 Febuary. The transmitters at Tory Island, Loop Head, and Mizen Head continued operation as providers of differential corrections to the satellite based Global Positioning System (gps).
Experimental Buoy
A new experimental buoy is scheduled for placing on station off the south coast of Wexford in December 1999. This buoy will be fitted with the next generation technology in solar and wave power generation, alternative light source, and remote monitoring of position and onboard equipment, among other systems. It is hoped that the outcome of these trials will lead to a significant improvement in the level of navigation service to the mariner.
New Ship
The hull construction work was completed in Romania, and the ship was named Granuaile and launched on 14 August. The previous day the existing vessel was officially renamed Granuaile II. This is a case of history repeating itself, for the same process was undertaken in 1970 with the same purpose-to preserve the name Granuaile under the Registry of Ships for the new vessel.
The first Granuaile entered service in 1948 and bore the prefix tss for Twin Screw Steamer. Then came ilt (Irish Lights Tender) Granuaile in 1970. In recognition of the changing role of ship support within the Service it was decided that the term Lighthouse Tender did not properly describe the functionality of the new ship, which will be more appropriately described by the broader prefix Irish Lights Vessel Granuaile.
After launching, the vessel was taken under tow to Frisian Shipyards in the north of the Netherlands, where she is undergoing fitting out before the commencement of harbour and full sea trials prior to delivery.
To visit the vessel and see the impressive progress of work at this stage is enormously satisfying. All the efforts of research and planning which were applied to the new design are now taking form in front of our eyes. When complete, I am confident that we will be delivered the most modern and capable Aids to Navigation Service Vessel in the world.
The Future
With the commissioning of the new ship, and new agreements with ship's crews, Marine Department Operations will be ideally placed with respect to hardware, tools, and equipment to look to the future with anticipation. To turn that anticipation into confidence, however, the really vital input is to have the right people with the right skills and not least, the commitment to the service we provide.
I feel sure that all these ingredients will be in place and that we will go forward assured of the valued and vital role we play in preserving and improving the safety of marine navigation around the coasts of Ireland into the new millennium.
Aids to Navigation Users' Consultative Committee The Irish Lights Aids to Navigation Users Group met on 29 September 1999. This is a forum of all marine navigation service stakeholders-Government Agencies representating both safety and regulatory interests, marine leisure, fishery, and commercial users. An excellent attendance allowed a very useful exchange of information where the work of the past year, plans for the coming year, and future proposals were discussed in some detail. This is an invaluable opportunity for the user community to examine and discuss the product and plans of our Service, and to make recommendations for change.
Helicopter Operations
Our contract with Irish Helicopters Ltd runs until March 2001. Early in 1999 Bristow Helicopters sold out their shareholding, and Irish Helicopters is now a wholly owned Irish company. I am pleased to say our professional working relationship is as good as ever.
The operation of the familiar Bolkow helicopter continues around the coast on a three weekly cycle, ferrying personnel and equipment, with occasional underslinging of heavy machinery, building material, and skips of ready-mix concrete.
New Europe-wide helicopter performance regulations, referred to as JAR OPS 3, are expected to come into force in the near future. The regulations are designed to ensure the highest standards of operational safety and will involve some minor changes to our operational procedures.
The Marine Department is working with Irish Helicopters and the Irish Aviation Authority to ensure that we comply fully with each aspect of these regulations, so far as lighthouse operations with the Bolkow helicopter are concerned.
Navigation Services
Thirteen official Irish Lights Notices to Mariners describing changes to the navigation services were issued in 1999, indicating the level of activity mentioned earlier. These Notices included important changes such as the lighting of six previously unlit buoys and beacons, and the solarisation of two major lights. The programme to light or remove all unlighted buoys on the Irish coast will be completed in year 2001 while the search for, and installation of, more energy efficient power systems for offshore lighthouses continues. The Medium Frequency Radiobeacon service from eight stations was discontinued on 1 Febuary. The transmitters at Tory Island, Loop Head, and Mizen Head continued operation as providers of differential corrections to the satellite based Global Positioning System (gps).
Experimental Buoy
A new experimental buoy is scheduled for placing on station off the south coast of Wexford in December 1999. This buoy will be fitted with the next generation technology in solar and wave power generation, alternative light source, and remote monitoring of position and onboard equipment, among other systems. It is hoped that the outcome of these trials will lead to a significant improvement in the level of navigation service to the mariner.
New Ship
The hull construction work was completed in Romania, and the ship was named Granuaile and launched on 14 August. The previous day the existing vessel was officially renamed Granuaile II. This is a case of history repeating itself, for the same process was undertaken in 1970 with the same purpose-to preserve the name Granuaile under the Registry of Ships for the new vessel.
The first Granuaile entered service in 1948 and bore the prefix tss for Twin Screw Steamer. Then came ilt (Irish Lights Tender) Granuaile in 1970. In recognition of the changing role of ship support within the Service it was decided that the term Lighthouse Tender did not properly describe the functionality of the new ship, which will be more appropriately described by the broader prefix Irish Lights Vessel Granuaile.
After launching, the vessel was taken under tow to Frisian Shipyards in the north of the Netherlands, where she is undergoing fitting out before the commencement of harbour and full sea trials prior to delivery.
To visit the vessel and see the impressive progress of work at this stage is enormously satisfying. All the efforts of research and planning which were applied to the new design are now taking form in front of our eyes. When complete, I am confident that we will be delivered the most modern and capable Aids to Navigation Service Vessel in the world.
The Future
With the commissioning of the new ship, and new agreements with ship's crews, Marine Department Operations will be ideally placed with respect to hardware, tools, and equipment to look to the future with anticipation. To turn that anticipation into confidence, however, the really vital input is to have the right people with the right skills and not least, the commitment to the service we provide.
I feel sure that all these ingredients will be in place and that we will go forward assured of the valued and vital role we play in preserving and improving the safety of marine navigation around the coasts of Ireland into the new millennium.