OF MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AFFAIRS NO. 2/2018 (8) RENOVATION OF AIDS TO NAVIGATION AT THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION

Transcription

1 JOURNAL OF MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AFFAIRS NO. 2/2018 (8) RENOVATION OF AIDS TO NAVIGATION AT THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION 1

2 Content/Foreword Table of Contents 3 FEATURE: Renovation of Lighthouses One of Our Priorities 6 JUBILEE: Maritime Administration HOSTING US / VISITING US President Kaljulaid at MA, Director General in Singapore and in Croatia, Director General of Slovenian MA in Tallinn, Meeting of Maritime Authorities of Three Baltic States INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: PA Safe SC and HELCOM AIS EWG Meetings, BIM Annual Meeting 11 MISCELLANEOUS MA s New Website, Construction Works at Hundipea, New Workshop at Rohuküla, Dredging Works in Rukki kanal, New Head in the Hydrography and Aids to Navigation Division JOURNAL OF MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AFFAIRS NO. 2/2018 (8) Journal of Maritime Administration Affairs No. 2/2018 (8) Cover image: Renovation of Kihnu lighthouse in autumn 2018 (photo: MA archive) EDITORIAL STAFF: Editors: Annika Naame, Tarmo Ots Layout & design: Profimeedia CONTACTS: Estonian Maritime Administration Valge 4, Tallinn Phone: teave@vta.ee 1 RENOVATION OF AIDS TO NAVIGATION AT THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION Dear Readers, The year 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the Estonian Maritime Administration. I would like to use this opportunity to thank all our colleagues who have helped to create such a good and well-functioning institution. Special thanks should go to our partners from the neighbouring countries, especially Sweden and Finland, who contributed to the restoration of our maritime authority after Estonia regained its independence in Taking into consideration such a remarkable anniversary, the event was celebrated at the Seaplane Harbour of the Estonian Maritime Museum in a more glamorous manner than in previous years. In order to share this memorable occasion with our readers we bring to you some nice photos of it. In this issue of the Journal we review last year s major developments. Right now we have about 20 aids to navigation in Estonia, including light beacons and day marks, which have been completely renovated. Due to the extra 1.5 million euros we received from the Government budget in 2018 we managed to repair two more lighthouses and start the preparations for renovation of several others. In addition to being important for the safety of water traffic, navigational marks, particularly lighthouses, also attract tourists approximately 100,000 people a year visit the lighthouses which are open to the public. Thus the main article this time focuses on the renovation of lighthouses in Estonia. Among other things you can read about the dredging of the fairway between Hiiumaa Island and the mainland undertaken by the Maritime Administration to make sure that ferry service can continue even in case of low water level; the new workshop at Rohuküla which is used for the maintenance of floating aids in West Estonia; and extensive reconstruction works that started in Hundipea harbour, the home of MA s fleet, to make berthing safer. In the future it will be a Photo by Raigo Pajula In addition to being important for the safety of water traffic, navigational marks, particularly lighthouses, also attract tourists. joint harbour for the fleets of the Administration and the Police and Border Guard Board. What to expect in 2019? We would like to go on with renovation of navigational marks, and we have plans to purchase new radars for our VTS system. Our flag ship project Enhancing the International Competitiveness of Estonian Shipping is taking shape and we will take a look at it in the next issue, after it has passed the final reading at the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament). Until then enjoy reading about the highlights of 2018! RENE ARIKAS Director General 2

3 Feature Renovation of lighthouses One of Our Priorities The year 2018 was remarkable from the point of view of renovation of Estonian lighthouses. For the first time a significant amount of money was allocated from the Governmental budget to reconstruct lighthouses which are valuable as cultural heritage. 1.5 million euros gives the MA a possibility to start the renovation process of four aids to navigation. Photos: MA ARCHIVE The almost 300-year-old Keri lighthouse is a cultural heritage site but closed to the public because of the danger of collapsing In Estonia, there are 41 operational lighthouses, some of which are architectural heritage objects. The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) has compiled a list of 100 noteworthy lighthouses that are preserved as architectural and cultural heritage sites, and 6 Estonian lighthouses can also be found on that list: Kõpu, Ruhnu, Tahkuna, Keri, Pakri and Suurupi front. Kõpu lighthouse is one of the three oldest navigational marks in the world still actively used. Noteworthy is also Suurupi lighthouse front (erected in 1885) because it is the only wooden lighthouse in Estonia currently in operation and one of the few wooden lighthouses in the world still working. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS In recent years the State has found it possible to finance the renovation of either two lighthouses or three light beacons a year The 43-metre Tahkuna lighthouse in Hiiumaa is the tallest cast-iron building in Estonia with an approximate cost of 300,000 euros. In total, 18 lighthouses and light beacons have been reconstructed in the last decade. An additional 1.5 million euros enable us to completely renovate lighthouses located in Kihnu and Vilsandi islands. The construction works in Kihnu Island, which have been completed by now, included stripping off the many layers of paint on the walls both outside and inside and repainting them (including walls, stairs, landings), and weatherizing the façade. Major electricity works were required, and the foundation and the socle had to be 3

4 Feature Kõpu lighthouse is people s favourite, as revealed by an opinion poll in 2018 People Voted Kõpu Lighthouse Their Favourite In November 2018, the Estonian Maritime Administration organised an opinion poll to find out which lighthouse people consider to be their favourite lighthouse in Estonia. The results of the poll were revealed on 13 November, at the Administration s 100th anniversary, and it was the Administration s present to the state on the 100th centenary of the Republic of Estonia. In total, over 3200 votes were cast. Almost a quarter of the voters selected Kõpu Lighthouse in Hiiumaa as their favourite. Sõrve Lighthouse in Saaremaa placed second, and Keri Lighthouse, which will celebrate its 300th anniversary next year, came third. Kõpu Lighthouse is the oldest in Estonia (erected in 1531, it will be 488 years old in 2019) and third oldest in the world. It is also the oldest continuously functioning lighthouse in the world. Originally a fire was lit on top of the structure, which could be seen from the sea. Today a 1000 W lantern is used that has luminous intensity of about 2,000,000 cd. The light of Kõpu Lighthouse is the most powerful in the Baltic region and Scandinavia; its visibility in darkness is 26 nautical miles. Its focal plane is m, which makes it the highest lighthouse light in Estonia. Kõpu was also the first lighthouse in Estonia to welcome visitors it was opened for the public in fixed up. Also, preparation of technical renovation projects of Ruhnu and Tallinn front lighthouses have been started. LIGHTHOUSES ATTRACT TOURISTS Renovation of lighthouses is one of the priorities of the Maritime Administration and a lot of effort and human resources have been put into this work. Readers may ask why this topic is so important for us. The issue needs to be considered in a wider perspective than only safety of navigation. Lighthouses attract attention and people are very keen to visit them. Well maintained aids to navigation open to the public attract tourists. Tourists create additional business opportunities (shops, eating places, accommodation). Most lighthouses are located in rural areas and every additional workplace has significance. It is important to note that the Maritime Administration has handed over the administration of the buildings in lighthouse complexes to private enterprises or persons, and according to contracts a certain amount of income coming from ticket sale is used for maintenance of the lighthouses. So it is a win-win situation for both sides we can earn an additional income to maintain the lighthouses and the local communities have additional business opportunities and working places. Thus, out of the 41 Estonian lighthouses 10 already welcome sightseers in summertime: Suurupi front and rear, Ristna, Kõpu, Tahkuna, Kihnu, Pakri, Ruhnu and Vormsi, as well as Sõrve. There are official requests to open two more lighthouses in the future. KERI LIGHTHOUSE NEEDS INVESTMENTS As an aid to navigation, Keri lighthouse is indispensable. It is located on a tiny islet in the Gulf of Finland, erected in The lighthouse used natural gas from the local drilling well for its light in the years from Tallinn lighthouse front is on the list of lighthouses waiting to be repaired in the near future 4

5 Feature Sõrve lighthouse was first opened for visitors in the summer of 2018 Suurupi front the oldest wooden lighthouse of the Baltic coasts Ruhnu lighthouse the metal cylindrical tower was made in France 1907 to But the stone part of the lighthouse has been in danger of collapsing for years now. Today the tower is supported with steel reinforcements and thus it has remained standing, fortunately. It has always been included in the MA plans as one of the first to be renovated, but as the cost would be considerable (estimations say over a million euros) the plans are still on hold and the financial decision should be made separately from all the others. Understandably it would be a very A nice winter shot of Pakri lighthouse complicated task to renovate a lighthouse so far in the sea. TALLINN LIGHTHOUSE FRONT WILL BE REPAIRED Tallinn lighthouse front, or Tallinn lighthouse north (or, by yet another name, the White lighthouse) is situated next to the VTS Centre of the Maritime Administration in Valge Street, Tallinn, on the edge of the limestone cliff in Lasnamägi. People might not even notice it among the trees, but for ships coming and leaving Tallinn it is an important aid to navigation which together with Tallinn lighthouse rear forms the Tallinn leading line. Tallinn lighthouse front is a stone building with a spire made of wood and covered with tinplate. Originally the front lighthouse was built in 1806, but it received its current look in However, not only lighthouses need to be taken care of. There are around a hundred more aids to navigation in a bad state of repair. The Estonian Maritime Administration has drawn up a development plan Sõrve Lighthouse Is Ready To Receive Guests On Saturday, 15 June 2018, Sõrve Lighthouse was officially opened for the public. This is the first lighthouse in Saaremaa Island, and the tenth in Estonia, to welcome visitors, who can enjoy the beautiful vistas of Saaremaa from 45 metres above the ground. Climbing the 248 stairs is worth it in good weather one can even see the coast of Latvia. The 52-metre lighthouse was built in 1960 and the visibility of its light is 15 nautical miles. for renovation of these. Preliminary calculations show that additional 15 million euros is needed in the next ten years to renovate all of them. More detailed information about lighthouses in Estonia is available on the MA homepage ( as well as on the Estonian Lighthouse Society website ( 5

6 Jubilee Administration100 A fascinating exhibit at Seaplane Maritime Harbour - the propeller of a submarine Photos: RAIGO PAJULA & JUULIA-MARIA LINNA On 13 November 2018, the Estonian Maritime Administration had its 100th anniversary. The celebration was held on 16 November at the Seaplane Harbour, where speeches were made, toasts were raised, guests also from outside Estonia were greeted and live music was played. Musician Tiit Kikas played the violin and entertained the crowd with a laser light show 6

7 Jubilee Ahti Kuningas, Deputy Secretary General for Transport from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, gave the Maritime Administration a huge globe as a birthday present Director General Rene Arikas receiving a seascape from the former Head of Foreign Relations Department of the Swedish Maritime Administration Willand Ringborg Director General Rene Arikas, Head of Hydrography and Aids to Navigation Division Kaidi Katus and Head of Maritime Safety Division Marek Rauk welcoming guests Andres Laasma from the ferry company Kihnu Veeteed presenting his gift to the Maritime Administration The Director General and his deputies writing in the guestbook The Maritime Museum s exhibition hall at Seaplane Harbour created a fascinating atmosphere for the event 7

8 Hosting Us/Visiting Us Photo by Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore President Kaljulaid at the Maritime Administration The President of the Republic of Estonia Mrs Kersti Kaljulaid visited the Maritime Administration on 5 June Director General Mr Rene Arikas introduced to President Kaljulaid our organisation, its main activities and future plans. They also discussed the topic of enhancing the competitiveness of Estonian shipping and touched upon the Participants of the panel discussion Director General at Singapore Maritime Week Photos by Tarmo Ots The President arriving at the Maritime Administration idea of using modern technology and digital solutions in the maritime sector. Mrs President had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the daily work at the vessel traffic management department and visit Tallinn front lighthouse. Director General Rene Arikas was invited to participate as a speaker on the 2nd Maritime Administrators Forum in Singapore. The forum took place on 25 April 2018 and was held in conjunction with the 13th Singapore Maritime Week. The purpose of this forum is to provide for senior maritime officials from different regions of the world possibilities to exchange ideas and experience in the areas of maritime technology, environment, safety and security. Mr Arikas concentrated in his speech on how enhanced technology and digitalisation drive greater efficiency in the maritime industry and public service in Estonia. He also shared the Maritime Administration s experience of how modern technical solutions can help to drive safety with reduced manpower available. Together with colleagues from the South African Maritime Safety Authority, Singapore Management University, World Bank and Port Authority of Singapore Mr Arikas exchanged ideas about the topic of Better Shipping for Better Future. A detailed overview of the event is available in the IMO Document C120/17(d)/2. Photo by Tarmo Ots Mrs President also visited Tallinn front lighthouse A Visit by Director General of Slovenian Maritime Administration At the end of August, Mr Jadran Klinec, Director General of the Slovenian Maritime Administration paid a short visit to the Estonian Maritime Administration while in Finland on business. Slovenia is updating its VTS system, so Mr Klinec and his associates were interested in the structural, operational and technical details of our vessel traffic services. In addition to stopping at the Maritime Administration s VTS centre in Valge Street, Tallinn, our Slovenian colleagues also met with Mrs Kaidi Katus, Head of Hydrography and Aids to Navigation Division and Deputy Director General, and Mr Tarmo Ots, Head of External Affairs. Director General of the Slovenian MA at the VTS Centre in Tallinn 8

9 Hosting Us/Visiting Us Director General Visited Croatian Colleagues Director General of the Estonian Maritime Administration Mr Rene Arikas visited the Maritime Safety Directorate of the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure on 16 October. Mr Arikas received an invitation from the State Secretary of the ministry, Ms Maja Markovčić Kostelac, who was at that time the Croatian member of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) administrative board. Estonia and Croatia have been interested in each other s maritime affairs for some time now, for several reasons. Both countries are small states facing similar challenges and problems; both are interested in developing their maritime sector and consider it important to make use of modern technological advances to improve maritime safety and maritime transport; and both attempt to find partners not only among their neighbours but also farther away. There has been cooperation between Estonia and Croatia in the maritime affairs before a decade ago the Estonian Maritime Administration participated in the building of the Croatian VTS within the framework of an international PHARE project. Similarly, our aids to navigation specialists have visited Croatian colleagues. Comparing the strengths and weaknesses of the maritime affairs in the two states, we see that the Croatians have created a successful and competitive ship register which at the moment contains 101 merchant ships, while Estonia has implemented a cost-efficient and easy to operate AtoN and hydrography sys- Photos by Tarmo Ots Estonian and Croatian colleagues in Rijeka, Croatia tem. Considering future developments, both would like to use more the benefits of digitalisation and Croatia is also interested in our experience in the construction of small passenger ferries. Croatia s reputation as a maritime state with highly skilled professionals is confirmed by the fact that Ms Maja Markovčić Kostelac was elected by an overwhelming majority the new chairperson of the EMSA administrative board. The meeting in October was significant for both sides and attracted a lot of media attention, so it was highlighted in the Croatian press and the local TV stations. Rene Arikas giving an interview to the local press During the visit to Croatia, Mr Arikas was accompanied by Mr Tarmo Ots, Head of External Affairs, and Mr Eero Naaber, Head of Development Department. Photo by Raitis Mūrnieks Meeting of Maritime Authorities of Three Baltic States On 6 and 7 September 2018, the 23rd meeting of the maritime administrations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania took place. It was organised by the Lithuanian Transport Safety Agency, who hosted the participants in Klaipeda. During the two-day discussions port state control and flag state control issues, implementation of conventions, small craft and inland vessel matters, and regulatory requirements regarding certification of seafarers were talked about. EU directives and their implementation in Member States as supervised by European institutions (EMSA audits) were also discussed. Arranging meetings between the maritime authorities of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is a long tradition which started immediately after independence was reestablished in the three states. The annual gatherings are hosted by all members in rotation. The next meeting in autumn 2019 will take place in Estonia, organised by the Estonian Maritime Administration. The three heads of the three Baltic maritime authorities 9

10 International Cooperation 18th PA Safe SC Meeting at the MA At the beginning of June last year, the 18th meeting of the International Steering Committee for the Policy Area on Maritime Safety and Security of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) took place in Tallinn at the Estonian Maritime Administration. The EUSBSR defines in its Action Plan the priority policy areas which include maritime safety and security (PA Safe). The objective is to make the Baltic Sea region the leader in the field of maritime safety. This objective is to be achieved through various projects, and those that have a particular significance for the Baltic Sea become flagship projects. Currently there are nine such flagship projects, four of which (STM Validation, WINMOS II, FAMOS and Efficien- Sea2) also include our Administration as a partner. The work of policy area PA Safe is coordinated by the Danish Maritime Authority and the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi). The Estonian Maritime Administration represents Estonia in the Policy Area. Photo by Tarmo Ots The meeting was chaired by Mr Alar Siht HELCOM AIS EWG Meeting in Tallinn On June 2018, the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) Automatic Identification System (AIS) Expert Working Group met at the Estonian Maritime Administration VTS Centre in Tallinn. Experts from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Russia, Latvia, Estonia and Norway participated, and the meeting was chaired by Mr Alar Siht from Estonia. The main topics discussed at the meeting included an overview of the decisions and documents of HELCOM meetings and conferences within the past year that have relevance to the activities and tasks of the AIS EWG; an overview of the developments and changes in the infrastructure of AIS networks in the countries that are Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention; and man- agement and development of HELCOM AIS. The most important task of the meeting was to prepare the new edition of HELCOM Recommendation 33/1 Unified Interpretation in Relation to Access to and Use of HEL- COM AIS, reflecting the changes deriving from the fact that the HELCOM AIS server is now administered by the Norwegian Coastal Administration, and that on 25 May 2018 the General Data Protection Regulation (DGPR) provisions became applicable in all EU states. This document was forwarded to the HELCOM Maritime conference in autumn to be approved. HELCOM AIS EWG (Expert Working Group for Mutual Exchange and Deliveries of AIS Data) was established on the basis of the HELCOM Copenhagen Declaration in Estonia Handed Chairmanship of BIM Over To Russia Photo by Jörg Kuchta Martin Kaarjärv handing over the chairmanship Estonia s role as Chair of the Baltic Icebreaking Management (BIM), an organisation that unites the Baltic Sea countries to facilitate cooperation in the activities of winter navigation, came to an end and the Russian Federation has assumed the position for the next two years. At the annual meeting on 3-4 October 2018, Russia was officially assigned the chairmanship. In addition to the ceremony of appointing the Russian Federation the next Chair and the usual topics of the previous winter navigation season and the budget of the organisation, also the Baltic icebreaking action plan for severe winters was discussed. The action plan is being prepared within the frames of the project WINMOS II and is designed to jointly coordinate icebreaking activities and use of resources in the countries around the Baltic Sea. This type of approach would be the opposite of the current practice of organising winter navigation coordination on a national basis. For the members of BIM the action plan is of utmost importance and they consider presenting it at HELCOM once it is ready. The goal of BIM is to promote safer winter navigation in keeping with HELCOM regulations and to arrange icebreaking coordination between the member states. The members finance the development of the BIM website (Baltice.org), participate in projects financed by the EU (e.g. WINMOS II) and cooperate in ensuring safe traffic in winter (e.g. Finland and Sweden in the Bay of Bothnia). 10

11 Miscellaneous MA Website Has a New Look In autumn 2018, the MA s new website was launched. It has been designed in keeping with the principles of the common visual identity for governmental authorities. All useful information on the website is presented in such a way that it would be as easy as possible for the user to navigate. Visitors can look for the information they require from the thematically organised menus and pulldown menus. Quick access links to most important documents and applications are provided on the Home page. The new website is also translated into the English language. The English version takes into account the needs of visitors who are not Estonian residents and provides links to further information in English whenever possible. The new address is A screenshot of the new homepage of the Administration Photos: MA archive In June Construction works Began in Hundipea Harbour In the home port of the fleet of the Estonian Maritime Administration construction works started in June, with the purpose of renovating two quays and the breakwater protecting the port water area. This is the second stage of the renovation of the harbour which is expected to be completed in January The cost of the construction is 7,140,598 euros excl. VAT, and 85 per cent is financed by the EU Cohesion Fund. Photo by MA archive 11

12 Miscellaneous MA Base at Rohuküla As Good As New In April, the construction company Nordlin Ehitus OÜ delivered to the Estonian Maritime Administration the renovated workshop in Rohuküla harbour. The construction company fixed the main structures of the building and repaired the roof and the walls. The old heating, water and power systems were replaced and in addition to the repair shop, the modernised building now also contains offices and non-work rooms with all modern conveniences, improving the workplace for MA employers significantly. The renovation of the whole building cost A sonar image of Rukki channel Maritime Administration Organised Maintenance Dredging of Rukki kanal Photo by MA archive 618,000 euros, VAT excluded. The MA uses Rohuküla workshop for the maintenance of floating aids to navigation used in the Väinameri sea, as well as in sea areas in the West-Estonian archipelago and around Pärnu. Author Vladimir Karpin The renovated MA base at Rohuküla New Head of Hydrography and Aids to Navigation Division is Kaidi Katus Since 18 July 2018, Ms Kaidi Katus has been Head of the Hydrography and Aids to Navigation Division of the Maritime Administration. Kaidi Katus has worked at the Administration since In 2004 she was appointed to the position of head of waterways section which later became Waterways Department. The previous head of the Division Mr Taivo Kivimäe continues work in the administration as Adviser to Director General. Photo by Priit Põiklik From August to October, maintenance dredging was carried out in Rukki kanal on the Rohuküla-Heltermaa fairway between mainland Estonia and Hiiumaa Island. The purpose of the operations was to restore a depth of 5.2 metres in the channel, ensuring the safe traffic of passenger ferries also in case the level of water becomes extremely low. In order to avoid interruption to ferry service, these operations were carried out during night hours. Dredging was somewhat complicated due to difficult weather conditions in the channel, on the way to the dump site as well as at the dump site itself. The dredging works were carried out by Inseneriehituse AS who used the Danishflagged dredger Margrethe Fighter. The total cost of dredging amounted to 780,000 euros. The depth of Rukki kanal is measured regularly. The next maintenance dredging is planned to be undertaken in two years. 12