Light Works
Dr Stuart Ruttle,
Engineer-in-Chief
Our efforts to provide more energy efficient systems continue. The solarisation projects at Bull Rock and Inishtrahull were completed at the beginning of 2001 and the stations are working satisfactorily. My thanks to all those who were involved with these successful projects.
Eagle Island Lighthouse
As I write, we are in the middle of the project to convert Eagle Island Lighthouse to operate from solar power using energy efficient equipment. Many will remember that Eagle Island Lighthouse had a radiobeacon. This meant that the station had to have continuously running generators following its automation in 1988. The radiobeacon was discontinued on 1 February 1999 following a review of navigational requirements and the introduction of the General Lighthouse Authorities' differential gps service in 1998.
Light intensity measurements by the General Lighthouse Authorities' Research and Development Section showed that a 35 Watt metal halide discharge lamp with glass reeded diffusers in the existing third order optic could provide a light with a range of 19 miles if the speed of rotation of the optic was reduced. The character of the light has therefore been changed from 3 flashes every 10 seconds to 3 flashes every 15 seconds and an energy efficient PRB 22 gearless drive pedestal has been installed to rotate the optic. The range of the light has been reduced from 23 to 19 nautical miles but its flash length has been marginally increased. The new light went into operation on 4 November 2001.
The monitoring system is being replaced with a Datac 932 unit that communicates directly with the central monitoring centre in Dun Laoghaire through the cellular mobile phone network.
The systems are being powered by an array of 40 Solarnova 50 Watt solar panels arranged to charge two parallel connected 24 volt 2750 Ampere-hour (Ah) lead acid batteries through regulators. The solar panel array has been mounted on a stainless steel frame located just below the old fog-signal compressor engine room.
To provide back up power a new Lister TS3 diesel generator is being installed which can be switched on remotely to charge the main batteries if required. One of the old Lister HR2 diesel generators is being left on site as an installed spare. These generators will also provide intermittent heating for the dwelling and domestic power for visiting personnel.
Skelligs Rock Lighthouse
The project for converting Skelligs Rock Lighthouse to operate from solar power is also in full swing. Similar to Eagle Island Lighthouse, the existing third order rotating lens is being retained.
When Skelligs was automated in 1985, an attempt was made to install an energy efficient rotation mechanism but difficulties in controlling the rotation at the required speed could not be resolved. The speed has therefore been reduced, the character of the light changed from 3 flashes every 10 seconds to 3 flashes every 15 seconds, and the lens is now rotated using an energy efficient PRB 22 gearless drive pedestal.
In addition, the mercury bath in which the lens rotates has been cleaned to reduce the drag on the lens. This was a difficult operation requiring very stringent safety procedures, including a satisfactory inspection on site by an official from the Health & Safety Authority.
The one kiloWatt metal arc lamps have been replaced with 35 Watt metal halide discharge lamps fitted in a lamp changer incorporating glass reeded diffusers, reducing the range of the light to 19 nautical miles. The new light went into operation on 22 October 2001.
The monitoring system is being replaced with a Datac 932 unit that communicates through the cellular mobile phone network directly with the central monitoring centre in Dun Laoghaire. As always at Skelligs, due to its location, line of sight communication paths are difficult to achieve. Aerials for the monitoring system are being located on top of the store at the entrance to the compound.
The systems are being powered by an array of 48 Solarnova 50 Watt solar panels arranged to charge two parallel connected 24 volt 2750 Ah lead acid batteries through regulators. Finding a suitable south-facing site for mounting solar panels was also not without difficulty. The solar panel array has been mounted on stainless steel frames located on the old oil tank bases at the entrance to the station and tied back onto the rock face. Extra solar panels have been used to compensate for the fact that this location is not quite south-facing.
To provide back up power, two of the diesel generators have been retained; these can be switched on remotely from Dun Laoghaire to charge the main batteries if required. They also provide intermittent conditioning heating for the dwelling and provide domestic power for visiting personnel.
Slyne Head and Maidens Lighthouses
Work has commenced on the design, specification, and procurement of equipment for re-equipping and solarising Slyne Head Lighthouse.
The light on Maidens Lighthouse is exhibited by day and by night and because of this it cannot be supported with a solar solution. Work is in hand on the design and specification for re-equipping the station. The accommodation is being improved with the construction of a new mess room. A large transfer of building materials utilising ilv Granuaile and our contract helicopter was carried out at the beginning of November 2001.
Buoys
In 1989 Irish Lights started to convert all buoys in service to operate from solar power. These have operated successfully over the intervening years; however, maintenance of the paint livery and deterioration of the daymarks, following the change from a two year to four year cycle at sea, prompted a re-look at the overall system design.
Standardisation is the buzz-word and a decision has been made to change to a design used successfully by the Northern Lighthouse Board. New aluminium superstructures are currently being manufactured. These house larger solar panels and, along with a change to the use of Light Emitting Diode (led) lanterns, should make our buoys more efficient and reliable.
Minor Works
Work is well advanced on plans to convert Blackhead Clare and Scattery Island Lighthouses to operate from solar power. Plans to replace equipment at Broadhaven Lighthouse are also well in hand.
Inisheer Lighthouse was the subject of considerable upgrading during 2001. In 1997 mains electricity power arrived at the station. In the refurbishment project the existing optic system with its cylindrical lens and rotating mirror system has been retained. The three diesel generators have been replaced with a single mains-failure generating set and the local monitoring system has been replaced with a Datac 932 system that communicates directly with the central monitoring system in Dun Laoghaire using the mobile phone network.
GLA Differential GPS Service
The differential gps project is a joint one with our sister authorities, Trinity House Lighthouse Service and the Northern Lighthouse Board. Twelve reference stations were set up in 1998, four in England and two in Wales operated by Trinity House, three in Scotland operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board, and three in Ireland operated by ourselves at Mizen Head, Loophead, and Tory Island.
The radiobeacon transmitters at the reference stations transmit integrity information about gps and correction information which can be used to determine one's position to better than 5 metres. The dgps service has operated success-fully since its inception.
Verification operations have been carried out, including checking the accuracy provided by the system and measuring signal strengths.
Even though the system works well, a problem identified was interference between dgps transmitters and radiobeacons all around Europe in the frequency band in use, thus effectively reducing the range of each station.
In conjunction with other countries in Europe and using the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (iala) as the vehicle, work has been completed on re-planning the frequency band in the European Maritime Area.
The changes were implemented on 18 and 19 September 2001 when all dgps stations in Europe were re-programmed to operate on new frequencies. Validation measurements are now re-commencing to verify the system's operation.
Co-operation
We continue to work closely with those organisations providing other safety services from our lighthouses. Port authorities now have radar and communications equipment installed at the Baily, Hook Head, Loophead, Kilcredaune, and Blackhead Antrim Lighthouses to support their Vessel Traffic Services systems. Projects being undertaken by Irish Landmark Trust to refurbish a number of Keepers' dwellings at Galley Head and Loophead for letting as holiday accommodation are well advanced.
Re-organisation
Much of the year has been spent operating in an interim management arrangement while negotiations with Trade Unions on the Engineering Department re-organisation take place. Despite this, work continues in the Lighthouse Depot and in all conditions of weather on the coast. Thanks are due to all the dedicated crews of technicians, coast tradesmen, painters, and general workers, and to the supervisors, managers, and support staff who all work together to ensure that our aids to navigation meet the required international availability standards. Thank you one and all.
Lanbys (Large Automatic Navigational BuoYs) are highly visible aids to navigation introduced on the Irish coast in 1976 as cost effective replacements for Lightships. Lanbys weigh over 60 tonnes and are 12 metres in diameter with a 12 metre high tower which carries a powerful flashing light, electric fog signal, and a radar transponder beacon (Racon). The light has a range of 15 nautical miles. The hull contains two engine rooms, an electronics room, and fuel, ballast, and buoyancy tanks. Electric power for the aids to navigation is provided by duplicated diesel generators. Lanbys can be refuelled at sea and their fuel capacity is sufficient for over a year.
Lanbys on station are linked by the Remote Control and Monitoring System to the Lighthouse Depot in Dun Laoghaire, where their position on station and the functioning of the light, fog signals, batteries, and engines are monitored.
Irish Lights has three Lanbys, two on station and one spare. After about two years at sea a Lanby is returned to the Lighthouse Depot for overhaul and is replaced on station by the spare Lanby. The photograph shows Lanby A in Dun Laoghaire Harbour on 6 June 2001 following its successful launch at the Lighthouse Depot, ready for towing by ILV Granuaile to the Codling station to replace Lanby B which was on the station for nearly three years.
Our efforts to provide more energy efficient systems continue. The solarisation projects at Bull Rock and Inishtrahull were completed at the beginning of 2001 and the stations are working satisfactorily. My thanks to all those who were involved with these successful projects.
As I write, we are in the middle of the project to convert Eagle Island Lighthouse to operate from solar power using energy efficient equipment. Many will remember that Eagle Island Lighthouse had a radiobeacon. This meant that the station had to have continuously running generators following its automation in 1988. The radiobeacon was discontinued on 1 February 1999 following a review of navigational requirements and the introduction of the General Lighthouse Authorities' differential gps service in 1998.
Light intensity measurements by the General Lighthouse Authorities' Research and Development Section showed that a 35 Watt metal halide discharge lamp with glass reeded diffusers in the existing third order optic could provide a light with a range of 19 miles if the speed of rotation of the optic was reduced. The character of the light has therefore been changed from 3 flashes every 10 seconds to 3 flashes every 15 seconds and an energy efficient PRB 22 gearless drive pedestal has been installed to rotate the optic. The range of the light has been reduced from 23 to 19 nautical miles but its flash length has been marginally increased. The new light went into operation on 4 November 2001.
The monitoring system is being replaced with a Datac 932 unit that communicates directly with the central monitoring centre in Dun Laoghaire through the cellular mobile phone network.
The systems are being powered by an array of 40 Solarnova 50 Watt solar panels arranged to charge two parallel connected 24 volt 2750 Ampere-hour (Ah) lead acid batteries through regulators. The solar panel array has been mounted on a stainless steel frame located just below the old fog-signal compressor engine room.
To provide back up power a new Lister TS3 diesel generator is being installed which can be switched on remotely to charge the main batteries if required. One of the old Lister HR2 diesel generators is being left on site as an installed spare. These generators will also provide intermittent heating for the dwelling and domestic power for visiting personnel.
Skelligs Rock Lighthouse
The project for converting Skelligs Rock Lighthouse to operate from solar power is also in full swing. Similar to Eagle Island Lighthouse, the existing third order rotating lens is being retained.
When Skelligs was automated in 1985, an attempt was made to install an energy efficient rotation mechanism but difficulties in controlling the rotation at the required speed could not be resolved. The speed has therefore been reduced, the character of the light changed from 3 flashes every 10 seconds to 3 flashes every 15 seconds, and the lens is now rotated using an energy efficient PRB 22 gearless drive pedestal.
In addition, the mercury bath in which the lens rotates has been cleaned to reduce the drag on the lens. This was a difficult operation requiring very stringent safety procedures, including a satisfactory inspection on site by an official from the Health & Safety Authority.
The one kiloWatt metal arc lamps have been replaced with 35 Watt metal halide discharge lamps fitted in a lamp changer incorporating glass reeded diffusers, reducing the range of the light to 19 nautical miles. The new light went into operation on 22 October 2001.
The monitoring system is being replaced with a Datac 932 unit that communicates through the cellular mobile phone network directly with the central monitoring centre in Dun Laoghaire. As always at Skelligs, due to its location, line of sight communication paths are difficult to achieve. Aerials for the monitoring system are being located on top of the store at the entrance to the compound.
The systems are being powered by an array of 48 Solarnova 50 Watt solar panels arranged to charge two parallel connected 24 volt 2750 Ah lead acid batteries through regulators. Finding a suitable south-facing site for mounting solar panels was also not without difficulty. The solar panel array has been mounted on stainless steel frames located on the old oil tank bases at the entrance to the station and tied back onto the rock face. Extra solar panels have been used to compensate for the fact that this location is not quite south-facing.
To provide back up power, two of the diesel generators have been retained; these can be switched on remotely from Dun Laoghaire to charge the main batteries if required. They also provide intermittent conditioning heating for the dwelling and provide domestic power for visiting personnel.
Slyne Head and Maidens Lighthouses
Work has commenced on the design, specification, and procurement of equipment for re-equipping and solarising Slyne Head Lighthouse.
The light on Maidens Lighthouse is exhibited by day and by night and because of this it cannot be supported with a solar solution. Work is in hand on the design and specification for re-equipping the station. The accommodation is being improved with the construction of a new mess room. A large transfer of building materials utilising ilv Granuaile and our contract helicopter was carried out at the beginning of November 2001.
Buoys
In 1989 Irish Lights started to convert all buoys in service to operate from solar power. These have operated successfully over the intervening years; however, maintenance of the paint livery and deterioration of the daymarks, following the change from a two year to four year cycle at sea, prompted a re-look at the overall system design.
Standardisation is the buzz-word and a decision has been made to change to a design used successfully by the Northern Lighthouse Board. New aluminium superstructures are currently being manufactured. These house larger solar panels and, along with a change to the use of Light Emitting Diode (led) lanterns, should make our buoys more efficient and reliable.
Minor Works
Work is well advanced on plans to convert Blackhead Clare and Scattery Island Lighthouses to operate from solar power. Plans to replace equipment at Broadhaven Lighthouse are also well in hand.
Inisheer Lighthouse was the subject of considerable upgrading during 2001. In 1997 mains electricity power arrived at the station. In the refurbishment project the existing optic system with its cylindrical lens and rotating mirror system has been retained. The three diesel generators have been replaced with a single mains-failure generating set and the local monitoring system has been replaced with a Datac 932 system that communicates directly with the central monitoring system in Dun Laoghaire using the mobile phone network.
GLA Differential GPS Service
The differential gps project is a joint one with our sister authorities, Trinity House Lighthouse Service and the Northern Lighthouse Board. Twelve reference stations were set up in 1998, four in England and two in Wales operated by Trinity House, three in Scotland operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board, and three in Ireland operated by ourselves at Mizen Head, Loophead, and Tory Island.
The radiobeacon transmitters at the reference stations transmit integrity information about gps and correction information which can be used to determine one's position to better than 5 metres. The dgps service has operated success-fully since its inception.
Verification operations have been carried out, including checking the accuracy provided by the system and measuring signal strengths.
Even though the system works well, a problem identified was interference between dgps transmitters and radiobeacons all around Europe in the frequency band in use, thus effectively reducing the range of each station.
In conjunction with other countries in Europe and using the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (iala) as the vehicle, work has been completed on re-planning the frequency band in the European Maritime Area.
The changes were implemented on 18 and 19 September 2001 when all dgps stations in Europe were re-programmed to operate on new frequencies. Validation measurements are now re-commencing to verify the system's operation.
Co-operation
We continue to work closely with those organisations providing other safety services from our lighthouses. Port authorities now have radar and communications equipment installed at the Baily, Hook Head, Loophead, Kilcredaune, and Blackhead Antrim Lighthouses to support their Vessel Traffic Services systems. Projects being undertaken by Irish Landmark Trust to refurbish a number of Keepers' dwellings at Galley Head and Loophead for letting as holiday accommodation are well advanced.
Re-organisation
Much of the year has been spent operating in an interim management arrangement while negotiations with Trade Unions on the Engineering Department re-organisation take place. Despite this, work continues in the Lighthouse Depot and in all conditions of weather on the coast. Thanks are due to all the dedicated crews of technicians, coast tradesmen, painters, and general workers, and to the supervisors, managers, and support staff who all work together to ensure that our aids to navigation meet the required international availability standards. Thank you one and all.
Lanbys (Large Automatic Navigational BuoYs) are highly visible aids to navigation introduced on the Irish coast in 1976 as cost effective replacements for Lightships. Lanbys weigh over 60 tonnes and are 12 metres in diameter with a 12 metre high tower which carries a powerful flashing light, electric fog signal, and a radar transponder beacon (Racon). The light has a range of 15 nautical miles. The hull contains two engine rooms, an electronics room, and fuel, ballast, and buoyancy tanks. Electric power for the aids to navigation is provided by duplicated diesel generators. Lanbys can be refuelled at sea and their fuel capacity is sufficient for over a year.
Lanbys on station are linked by the Remote Control and Monitoring System to the Lighthouse Depot in Dun Laoghaire, where their position on station and the functioning of the light, fog signals, batteries, and engines are monitored.
Irish Lights has three Lanbys, two on station and one spare. After about two years at sea a Lanby is returned to the Lighthouse Depot for overhaul and is replaced on station by the spare Lanby. The photograph shows Lanby A in Dun Laoghaire Harbour on 6 June 2001 following its successful launch at the Lighthouse Depot, ready for towing by ILV Granuaile to the Codling station to replace Lanby B which was on the station for nearly three years.