Letter from the Chief Executive
The year 2000 has been a difficult one for
Irish Lights. Fortunately there have also been some highlights to
relish. In particular the commissioning of ILV Granuaile
and the subsequent highly impressive performance of the vessel are
very positive developments. We thank Hart Fenton, Damen Shipyards,
and our own Irish Lights team led by Captain Shay Hickey for
producing such a fine vessel.
Little progress has been made in resolving the complicated
problems of integrating Irish Lights into the Foyle, Carlingford
and Irish Lights Commission. Nevertheless the Board and staff of
the Commissioners of Irish Lights continue to give the same level
of commitment to providing a professional service to mariners
in salutem omnium.
A major review of maintenance strategy and procedures is in progress. This review is wide ranging and will lead to changes in the organisation and logistics of engineering operations at lighthouses and in the Lighthouse Depot.
Global Satellite Navigation Systems are undergoing significant change at present. Europe is completing the definition phase of a new satellite navigation system called Galileo. Meanwhile the USA has removed the annoying selective availability feature on its Global Positioning System (GPS) and has announced major plans to upgrade the system over the next ten years. Gps will, however, remain primarily a military weapons delivery system under the control of the US Department of Defense.
The advent of such high precision systems, and those augmented by the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) service provided by the Commissioners of Irish Lights highlights the urgent need to bring the quality of navigation charts up to the same standard. The present nineteenth century charts are incompatible with systems providing absolute accuracy of, say, two metres. The same issue applies to a lesser extent to land surveys and maps and Irish Lights is currently co-operating with the Ordinance Survey of Ireland in this regard.
Developments in the general marine infrastructure around Ireland are gaining momentum. Improvements in search and rescue, weather forecasting, fishery research capability, and port developments augur well for the future. We in Irish Lights are primarily involved in all aspects of navigation, hazard warning, and accident prevention; we also have the capability to provide offshore services in the hydrographic surveying, oil pollution, and marine data collection fields and, in particular, operations involving buoys for any purpose.
I hope 2001 will bring some stability to Irish Lights and ensure that our focus is directed to building a better Service for the future.
I wish you all the very best for the year 2001.
T. M. Boyd
Chief Executive
A major review of maintenance strategy and procedures is in progress. This review is wide ranging and will lead to changes in the organisation and logistics of engineering operations at lighthouses and in the Lighthouse Depot.
Global Satellite Navigation Systems are undergoing significant change at present. Europe is completing the definition phase of a new satellite navigation system called Galileo. Meanwhile the USA has removed the annoying selective availability feature on its Global Positioning System (GPS) and has announced major plans to upgrade the system over the next ten years. Gps will, however, remain primarily a military weapons delivery system under the control of the US Department of Defense.
The advent of such high precision systems, and those augmented by the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) service provided by the Commissioners of Irish Lights highlights the urgent need to bring the quality of navigation charts up to the same standard. The present nineteenth century charts are incompatible with systems providing absolute accuracy of, say, two metres. The same issue applies to a lesser extent to land surveys and maps and Irish Lights is currently co-operating with the Ordinance Survey of Ireland in this regard.
Developments in the general marine infrastructure around Ireland are gaining momentum. Improvements in search and rescue, weather forecasting, fishery research capability, and port developments augur well for the future. We in Irish Lights are primarily involved in all aspects of navigation, hazard warning, and accident prevention; we also have the capability to provide offshore services in the hydrographic surveying, oil pollution, and marine data collection fields and, in particular, operations involving buoys for any purpose.
I hope 2001 will bring some stability to Irish Lights and ensure that our focus is directed to building a better Service for the future.
I wish you all the very best for the year 2001.
T. M. Boyd
Chief Executive