NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE BOARD SCOTTISH USERS CONSULTATIVE GROUP (SUCG) MINUTES 7 November 2013

Transcription

1 NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE BOARD SCOTTISH USERS CONSULTATIVE GROUP (SUCG) MINUTES 7 November 2013 PRESENT: Richard Alexander Cory Brothers Shipping Agency Ron Bailey Peel Ports - Clydeport David Blair BP Exploration Marine Team Iain Buchanan Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Roy Cahill Department for Transport George Combe Stena Line Bill Davidson Shetland Ports & Harbours Val Ferguson Ports & Harbour Branch, Transport Scotland Scott Horsburgh Marine Scotland - Compliance Norman Jones David MacBrayne HR (UK) Ltd Gary Leech Nautilus Edward Mason Clyde Cruising Club Andy Milner Maritime & Coastguard Agency Barry Murnin Northern Marine Malcolm Nicholson RRNav, General Lighthouse Authorities John Stevenson The Crown Estate Richard Varley City of Glasgow College David Vass Royal Yachting Association, Scotland Chris Walton United Kingdom Hydrographic Office Alistair Mackenzie Chairman SUCG Alastair Beveridge Commissioner, NLB Roger Lockwood Chief Executive Phil Day Director of Marine Operations Moray Waddell Director of Engineering Peter Douglas Navigation Manager Mike Spain Business Development Manager Archie Johnstone Navigation Officer Steve Driver Coastal Inspector Carol Hughes AtoN Inspector Christine Middleton PA to Director of Marine Operations Jill Bennett Secretary to the Board Alistair Mackenzie, the NLB SUCG Chairman, welcomed everyone to the meeting. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were also received from the following organisations: Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen Harbour Board, Chamber of Shipping, Cromarty Firth Port Authority, Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Fife Council, Moray Council, Perth Harbour, Royal Institute of Navigation, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Stornoway Port Authority, Wick Harbour Authority.

2 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING & MATTERS ARISING The minutes of the previous meeting held on 1 November 2012 were agreed as a correct record. There were no matters arising that were not dealt with later in the agenda. 3. ANNUAL REVIEW OF NLB Roger Lockwood, Chief Executive of NLB, gave a brief overview of the main issues since the last meeting: General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) Assessment (The Atkins Study) As detailed in previous SUCG minutes, following the 2009 increase in Light Dues, the first since 1993, the House of Commons debate on Light Dues had instigated the review. The Review had five objectives to consider: Aids to Navigation management, GLA synergies and efficiencies, Management of the General Lighthouse Fund, Funding, particularly the light dues charging regime and UK-Ireland cooperation. The three GLAs have now effectively delivered all those recommendations which were within their remit to deliver. There are two ongoing items remaining: RPI-X savings This was a target to increase running costs year on year by an agreed amount below inflation, measured over 5 years. Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) There is a commitment for CIL to be self funding by 2015 but still part of the tri-gla structure. The three GLAs have co-operated with each other, at all levels, to achieve these outcomes and continue to learn from each other. Major Lights Review Last year s meeting reported that Covesea Skerries and Strathy Point had been closed and since the last meeting, both have now been sold. Covesea Skerries Covesea was removed from the market following an application for a Community Right to Buy and the Covesea Lighthouse Trust are currently raising the funds required. Covesea was sold to the newly formed Covesea Lighthouse Trust. Mull of Galloway, Whilst not a light closure, has NLB sold the cottages and outbuildings to the South Rhinns Community Development Trust NLB continues to dispose of non-operational properties, primarily cottages and outbuildings where they are no longer required. Reclassification of GLAs Following the Greek crisis, the European Union required member states to identify all sources of government income. The Office of National Statistics decided that Light Dues were a tax rather than a levy and therefore the GLAs were reclassified as central government bodies rather than public corporations. This has no impact on the user, but has meant a considerable amount of extra work for the GLAs. For example, NLB as a Central Government Body has now been designated to the Department for Transport for financial accounting purposes and now has to prepare two sets of accounts in completely different formats for submission to the GLF and to the DfT. This designation has also 2

3 led to NLB being included on the list for numerous requests for statistics/reports/information from other parts of the the DfT. One good result of this change has led to the revisal and updating of the Framework Document that governs the formal relationship between the DfT and the GLAs. The Merchant Shipping Act (MSA) is still the primary legislation governing the GLAs and will take priority if there is any conflict with requirements under Designation. Bad Weather NLB s engineering staff have been responding to the effects of the weather over the last year including: Once in a generation wave damage was caused at Fair Isle Storm damage at Buchan Ness Heavy snow in March cut off the Mull of Kintyre Ships NLV Pharos and NLV Pole Star have been involved in statutory work and income generation. Challenges Ahead Independence Referendum - NLB is currently reserved to Westminster New Chief Executive - Roger Lockwood leaves in early May 2014 after 8 years at the helm of NLB. He leaves a slimmer organisation where tri-gla cooperation is at an all time high. 4. MODERN LIGHTSOURCES Malcolm Nicholson, Principal Development Engineer (Visual Signalling), Research and Radionavigation Directorate (R&RNav), General Lighthouse Authorities of United Kingdom and Ireland (GLAs) gave a presentation on the work of R&RNav in developing modern light sources - what they do and why. R&RNav is a tri-gla Research & Radionavigation directorate works on behalf of all three GLAs and report into the 3 Chief Executives. Research focuses on: Radionavigation GNSS, Terrestrial Radionavigation and enavigation Visual Signalling AtoN Support, AtoN Development, AtoN Research. The main work of the Visual Signalling section involves: developing new AtoN lights light measurement of new lights going into service/in development and quality assurance of lights on the estate national and international liaison (including IALA, networking with universities etc) advice on lighting matters to the GLAs training for technicians and Retained Lighthouse Keepers (RLKs) The three GLAs are asked what work they wish to be undertaken and this is built into the work programmes for the year work programme included: Remote Light Measurement System (ReLMs) o Reference Light Alignment o Power Switching o Optic Timer Conspicuity Scale o Repeat of TS&G Experiment o Equipment Design 3

4 Light Measurements o 8 field measurements o 20+ range measurements Light Source Development o Large LED light source + NSL Design MALC (Marine AtoN Lights Calculator) Updates (available on the R&RNav website) o Daytime range o User selected service conditions The work programme included: Daylight Test Box o Similar to an integrating sphere o Enables quick check of lux levels (eg preset levels, how to overcome long winter difficulties) Conspicuity Scale o Conduct experiment o Initial results encouraging Light Measurements o 5 field measurements o 20+ range measurements Light Source Development o License agreement signed with Pelangi (Changes in the MSA allowed the opportunity to exploit intellectual property rights) o Small LED Light source Enhanced Night Time Conspicuity o Flashing vs Fixed Flashing Trial Multiple Application LED Lantern System (MALLS) o IKEA Flat pack principle (easy to transport to site and easy to put together) Coordinate Optics and Lamps Database (COLA) o Quick and easy access to previous measurements Light Range Rationalisation o Goniospectroradiometry (measuring power of colour whilst its turning) The work programme included: Light Source Development o Further refinement/tests on large and small LED light source Product Support for MALLS & COLA o Procure build and test order from GLAs Light Measurements o 10 Field measurements planned o 20+ range measurements expected MALC Updates o Integrate effective and apparent intensity models FMS (Field Measurement System) Upgrade o Incorporate ReLMs and upgrade software Enhanced Night Time Conspicuity o Conduct trial on apparent intensity model Conspicuity Scale o Conduct further experiments to include colour and background (if can reduce flash length due to colour, would reduce drain on battery/solar panel) Further information is available at the website 4

5 5. VIRTUAL AIDS TO NAVIGATION (vaton) Peter Douglas, NLB Navigation Manager gave a presentation on virtual aids to navigation. A virtual aid to navigation does not physically exist but is a digital information object that can be presented on navigational systems. They can be used to inform the mariner about dangers to navigation as well as safe waterways, areas in which extra caution may be necessary and areas to be avoided. Virtual AtoN are used primarily where there is a tie critical consideration. They may also be used in places where permanent physical AtoNs cannot be sited. Virtual AtoN are not intended to replace physical aids to navigation. They are a short term solution that allows new dangers to be marked on a temporary basis. The GLA policy on Virtual AtoN is contained within the GLA Radio Navigation Plan and states that the use of virtual AtoN as first response to new dangers where no physical AtoN exists, for example for use in wreck marking prior to deploying buoys, mitigating further the risk to mariners. All GLA vessels have the facility to broadcast Virtual AtoNs and NLB conducted trials with Virtual AtoNs as part of the 2010 AtoN review. The intention in the longer term is to work alongside the MCA and through an agreement with them, broadcast through the MCA datafeed. There are limitations including the fact that not all vessels carry AIS; not all AIS will display Type 21 messages; not all mariners will recognise vaton; and the range limitations from the base station. Signals can be picked up from approximately 20 miles away. Feedback is now being sought from users. Questions Is it only displayed on the Bridge? If radar not linked to AIS there is a limitation issue. How does a lighthouse give virtual AIS? Answers It can be superimposed on radar, but there is a software recognition/compatibility issue. It is anticipated that the situation will improve with time as recognition is achieved from software designers and display limitations of the manufacturers are addressed. Broadcast is from several locations and transmitter sites. 6. GLA RISK RESPONSE CRITERIA Phillip Day, NLB Director of Marine Operations, gave the background to the Tri GLA Risk Response document, the final draft of which was circulated at the meeting. The process undertaken to produce the new document was based on a risk assessment based approach proportionate to the volume of traffic and degree of risk for the whole of the British Isles for wrecks and new dangers. Analysis was undertaken by tracking around the British Isles for 28 days in the Summer of 2012, then the busiest day of these 28 days was identified and used for further analysis. It was noted that the plan will be launched in May 2014 and that the response to AtoN casualties is different from the response to wrecks and new dangers. 5

6 AtoN REVIEW Peter Douglas, NLB Navigation Manager gave the background to the 2015 AtoN Review. This will be the fourth combined GLA review that is undertaken in a five year cycle. This first stage involves information gathering, which includes AIS traffic data, known grounding instances and offshore developments. Consultation starts with this meeting and the assessment process will take place throughout 2014 with the final report being published in May Questions being asked include: What do the GLAs currently provide What should they provide Scope for enhanced services Categorisation of existing services The Review will look at major and minor lights, best use of buoyage, racons (these were increased at the last review), AIS and virtual AIS. When AtoNs are reviewed, there is GLA Risk Assessment Process that is undertaken and recorded. Areas of specific interest include Oban Bay, Loch Sunart, Craighouse in Jura, SE Islay, Sanday in Orkney and Sound of Harris. Input from stakeholders is welcomed either by telephone or to any of the contacts below. 8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. 9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the SUCG is scheduled to take place in Edinburgh on Thursday 6 November Navigation Contacts General Navigation Peter Douglas peterd@nlb.org.uk Aquaculture Steven Driver stevend@nlb.org.uk LLAs/Offshore Oil Archie Johnstone archiej@nlb.org.uk Coast Protection Act Carol Hughes carolh@nlb.org.uk 6