Lighthouse Authority News

The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB), the General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man announced the award of a £51.8 million contract to Spanish shipyard Astilleros Gondán S.A, for the build of a hybrid powered buoy tender vessel to support its vital safety service to mariners.The tender includes a commitment to place over £2 million of contracts with U.K. suppliers with a requirement for any contract over £25,000 to be advertised in the U.K. As part of the deal Gondán will also create a special fully funded internship program for up to 15 U.K.

The UK’s Department for Transport is to acquire a new ship for the General Lighthouse Authority Trinity House to replace THV Patricia, which has been in service since 1982, to ensure other vessels continue safe and smooth operations in UK waters and overseas. The General Lighthouse Authority is responsible for providing more than 600 aids a year to navigation around UK waters, including ships, lighthouses and buoys. The as yet unnamed vessel will deliver critical navigation aids to ships in some of the most dangerous waters in the world…

In the UK, Captain Duncan Glass OBE, chairman of the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, has been awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for exceptional services to navigational safety and to seafarers’ charities. The award focuses on outstanding contribution made to merchant shipping, its operations, development, personnel, welfare or safety, or on those who have performed an act of courage afloat. Captain Duncan Glass was awarded the medal by Admiral Lord West of Spithead at a ceremony attended by many senior figures from across the industry including the minister Mike Penning MP.