Marine View
Capt. J. J. Hickey, Head of Marine
This has been another busy year for the Marine Department. In
the space available I will try to describe some of the more
significant work and events which occurred.
Nautical Institute consultation on the future of visual aids to navigation
This was a world-wide consultation conducted through the 38 branches and over 7000 professional members of the Institute in more than 70 countries. The results of the process were published by the Institute and are contained in the summary by Paul Ridgeway in this issue. This report was very influential in the considerations of the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) in developing the 2020 The Vision navigation strategy. Because of its importance I have shortened my contribution to allow space to reproduce the summary in this year's issue.
2020 The Vision
In last year's issue I outlined the work being undertaken by the three GLAs to examine marine navigational requirements for the future. The task was to attempt to identify and predict trends of usage of both new technology and conventional short range and visual aids to navigation to the year 2020. The navigation strategy of the GLAs was unveiled to our User Group meeting in September 2004 and later placed on the Commissioners of Irish Lights web site. I am pleased to report that it has received a high level of approval from the aids to navigation user community as a whole.
Navigation Review
Informed by the Vision strategy, work has now commenced on a comprehensive and integrated GLA review of all aids to navigation provided for general navigation throughout the coasts of Ireland and the British Isles. The review will be published and will enter a user consultation phase early in 2005.
Commercial ship work
ILV Granuaile successfully completed a 27 day charter to the Geological Survey of Ireland completing seismic examinations of areas of the Hatton Bank, west of Rockall. Captain Dermot Gray's article in this issue offers a detailed description of the work and the oceanic weather conditions encountered.
Granuaile refit
While still referred to as the new ship, it comes as a surprise to some people to be told that the vessel had completed her five year dry-docking, refit and survey in September 2004 in Harland and Wolff in Belfast. Actually, the ship will not reach her commissioning birthday until the end of January 2005. However, the five-year docking cycle places increased importance on the refit schedule and work quality required. Relative humidity, wind speeds, and curing temperatures are all critical in obtaining quality paint coatings and led to the decision to conduct the refit in the late summer period. This allowed us to take advantage of the kinder weather and longer days rather than wait till next January.
The last time the vessel dry-docked was in Rotterdam on the expiry of the builders warranty period. After almost three years in water the vessel's cathodic protection and self polishing hull anti-fouling paint coating was found to be in very good condition. The next scheduled docking is not due until 2007. The vessel's overall condition belies her age and is a compliment to the continuous maintenance work carried out by the ship's crews.
Relume and new GLA vessels I was very pleased to be invited to the naming ceremony for the new Middle Eastern Navigation Company vessel Relume in the Dutch port of Vlissingen in July. It was a beautiful day and the ship looked wonderful. The conceptual resemblance with Granuaile is striking and some of the working arrangements are almost exactly the same. She has since successfully completed her sea trials and has been commissioned, based in Bahrain.
Our sister services Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) and Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) signed a contract in November for the building of two new Granuaile type service vessels and a smaller aft-working rapid intervention vessel (RIV). These are to be built in series in Poland with the RIV expected to enter service at the end of 2005. We congratulate these Services and wish them all success with their new vessels.
Automatic Lightfloats (ALFs)
In September 2004 ALF Gannet was removed from the Coningbeg station and underwent a major refit and docking in Cork Dockyard. Site supervision in the dockyard was done by Eddie MacDonald who was the sole Irish Lights representative for most of the period of work and did a fine job.
About the same time Granuaile removed ALF Kittiwake from her South Rock station and conducted her mid-term overhaul in Ballyhalbert Bay under the technical supervision of Mick Delahunty.
Both operations were project managed by Captain George Ball, Assistant Inspector, and went very well, mainly to schedule with only a few days' delay returning Kittiwake to station due to adverse weather.
Helicopter operations
In January 2004 we commenced the trial of alternative helicopter operations schedules. These trials are being operated in parallel with a review of the required frequency of station maintenance visits. Two special station trials will be undertaken at Rathlin O'Birne and Tuskar where the attendance periods will be extended to 13 weeks. The intention of these trials is to establish clear requirements for future helicopter service levels with the renewal of the current helicopter contract. The outcome of these trials will inform the decision as to whether there is an opportunity to develop economies of scale with our colleagues in NLB and THLS through a single new helicopter contract arrangement.
At the same time, we have reviewed our procedures and carried out a training programme for Irish Lights personnel involved in helicopter underslinging operations.
IALA Aids to Navigation Management (ANM) Committee workshop
Captain Kieran O'Higgins attended a risk assessment workshop in Montreal in November 2004. This is an IALA initiative to provide a method of assessing risk in waterways and ports for different sizes and types of vessel. IALA has developed models which attempt to quantify the risks, taking account of factors relating to ship characteristics, handling, and type, as well as channel restrictions, and aids to navigation provided. The result is a risk factor which can help determine the adequacy of the safety margin.
The ANM Committee is one of several IALA committees which deal with issues such as engineering matters, automatic identification systems, and radionavigation and attempt to agree world-wide recommendations and guidelines on marine aids to navigation.
Local Lights project This project has been ongoing for some time and involves the introduction of a revised inspection and audit regime, together with the development of a database of aids to navigation operated under the responsibility of Local Lighthouse Authorities. The project is expected to reach conclusion early in 2005. As Local Lights Inspector Captain Robert McCabe has been seconded to the business process review team, it has been necessary to transfer Captain Harry McClenahan on a temporary basis from Granuaile to the Local Lights project.
2004 ~ 2005
My colleagues in the Marine Department look forward to playing a vigorous and positive role in the current change and integration process.
I thank all our lighthouse, afloat, and shore based staff for their work and commitment throughout the year, and wish them and their families a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year in 2005.
Nautical Institute consultation on the future of visual aids to navigation
This was a world-wide consultation conducted through the 38 branches and over 7000 professional members of the Institute in more than 70 countries. The results of the process were published by the Institute and are contained in the summary by Paul Ridgeway in this issue. This report was very influential in the considerations of the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) in developing the 2020 The Vision navigation strategy. Because of its importance I have shortened my contribution to allow space to reproduce the summary in this year's issue.
2020 The Vision
In last year's issue I outlined the work being undertaken by the three GLAs to examine marine navigational requirements for the future. The task was to attempt to identify and predict trends of usage of both new technology and conventional short range and visual aids to navigation to the year 2020. The navigation strategy of the GLAs was unveiled to our User Group meeting in September 2004 and later placed on the Commissioners of Irish Lights web site. I am pleased to report that it has received a high level of approval from the aids to navigation user community as a whole.
Navigation Review
Informed by the Vision strategy, work has now commenced on a comprehensive and integrated GLA review of all aids to navigation provided for general navigation throughout the coasts of Ireland and the British Isles. The review will be published and will enter a user consultation phase early in 2005.
Commercial ship work
ILV Granuaile successfully completed a 27 day charter to the Geological Survey of Ireland completing seismic examinations of areas of the Hatton Bank, west of Rockall. Captain Dermot Gray's article in this issue offers a detailed description of the work and the oceanic weather conditions encountered.
Granuaile refit
While still referred to as the new ship, it comes as a surprise to some people to be told that the vessel had completed her five year dry-docking, refit and survey in September 2004 in Harland and Wolff in Belfast. Actually, the ship will not reach her commissioning birthday until the end of January 2005. However, the five-year docking cycle places increased importance on the refit schedule and work quality required. Relative humidity, wind speeds, and curing temperatures are all critical in obtaining quality paint coatings and led to the decision to conduct the refit in the late summer period. This allowed us to take advantage of the kinder weather and longer days rather than wait till next January.
The last time the vessel dry-docked was in Rotterdam on the expiry of the builders warranty period. After almost three years in water the vessel's cathodic protection and self polishing hull anti-fouling paint coating was found to be in very good condition. The next scheduled docking is not due until 2007. The vessel's overall condition belies her age and is a compliment to the continuous maintenance work carried out by the ship's crews.
Relume and new GLA vessels I was very pleased to be invited to the naming ceremony for the new Middle Eastern Navigation Company vessel Relume in the Dutch port of Vlissingen in July. It was a beautiful day and the ship looked wonderful. The conceptual resemblance with Granuaile is striking and some of the working arrangements are almost exactly the same. She has since successfully completed her sea trials and has been commissioned, based in Bahrain.
Our sister services Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) and Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) signed a contract in November for the building of two new Granuaile type service vessels and a smaller aft-working rapid intervention vessel (RIV). These are to be built in series in Poland with the RIV expected to enter service at the end of 2005. We congratulate these Services and wish them all success with their new vessels.
Automatic Lightfloats (ALFs)
In September 2004 ALF Gannet was removed from the Coningbeg station and underwent a major refit and docking in Cork Dockyard. Site supervision in the dockyard was done by Eddie MacDonald who was the sole Irish Lights representative for most of the period of work and did a fine job.
About the same time Granuaile removed ALF Kittiwake from her South Rock station and conducted her mid-term overhaul in Ballyhalbert Bay under the technical supervision of Mick Delahunty.
Both operations were project managed by Captain George Ball, Assistant Inspector, and went very well, mainly to schedule with only a few days' delay returning Kittiwake to station due to adverse weather.
Helicopter operations
In January 2004 we commenced the trial of alternative helicopter operations schedules. These trials are being operated in parallel with a review of the required frequency of station maintenance visits. Two special station trials will be undertaken at Rathlin O'Birne and Tuskar where the attendance periods will be extended to 13 weeks. The intention of these trials is to establish clear requirements for future helicopter service levels with the renewal of the current helicopter contract. The outcome of these trials will inform the decision as to whether there is an opportunity to develop economies of scale with our colleagues in NLB and THLS through a single new helicopter contract arrangement.
At the same time, we have reviewed our procedures and carried out a training programme for Irish Lights personnel involved in helicopter underslinging operations.
IALA Aids to Navigation Management (ANM) Committee workshop
Captain Kieran O'Higgins attended a risk assessment workshop in Montreal in November 2004. This is an IALA initiative to provide a method of assessing risk in waterways and ports for different sizes and types of vessel. IALA has developed models which attempt to quantify the risks, taking account of factors relating to ship characteristics, handling, and type, as well as channel restrictions, and aids to navigation provided. The result is a risk factor which can help determine the adequacy of the safety margin.
The ANM Committee is one of several IALA committees which deal with issues such as engineering matters, automatic identification systems, and radionavigation and attempt to agree world-wide recommendations and guidelines on marine aids to navigation.
Local Lights project This project has been ongoing for some time and involves the introduction of a revised inspection and audit regime, together with the development of a database of aids to navigation operated under the responsibility of Local Lighthouse Authorities. The project is expected to reach conclusion early in 2005. As Local Lights Inspector Captain Robert McCabe has been seconded to the business process review team, it has been necessary to transfer Captain Harry McClenahan on a temporary basis from Granuaile to the Local Lights project.
2004 ~ 2005
My colleagues in the Marine Department look forward to playing a vigorous and positive role in the current change and integration process.
I thank all our lighthouse, afloat, and shore based staff for their work and commitment throughout the year, and wish them and their families a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year in 2005.