Part 1 - Executive Summary

1.1 A joint review of Aids to Navigation (AtoN) of the coasts of the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland has been conducted in accordance with the guide-lines set out in Chapter 7.3 of the three GLAs' Joint Navigation Requirements Policy document. Each GLA has reviewed the AtoN in its own area of responsibility and joint consultations have been conducted over areas of common or overlapping interest, such as the North Channel. Users are consulted wherever and whenever appropriate. Several of the proposed changes contained in the Review have been incorporated as a direct result of user response already obtained to date on specific areas of interest. Some of the user response already obtained has resulted in the implementation of certain changes. This Review addresses the current and future requirements of national and international shipping and those of Mariners in general for consultation purposes.
1.2 The study has been carried out based solely on the minimum navigational requirements and does not at this stage take into account any other considerations. It is important to appreciate that the measures contained in this Review will not necessarily take place within the next 5 years, however they will shape the GLAs' Capital Works and Buoyage programme contained within individual Corporate Plans.
1.3 The bridges of most modern commercial ships are fitted with a number of key navigational aids, which rely on inputs from GPS for position and timing.
1.4 GPS has brought readily available and accurate position fixing to millions and has changed the manner in which the mariner conducts a voyage. However, there is concern in the maritime sector over such high reliance on GPS for positioning fixing and timing due to the known vulnerability of the system to accidental or malicious interference.
1.5 The advent of Galileo will only ameliorate this concern to a limited degree. The similarities of GPS and Galileo mean that they suffer from the same weaknesses. It is essential to retain a mix of complementary systems, as the fundamental principle of marine navigation is never to rely on a single source of navigation information when alternative sources are available.
1.6 Given that 95% of UK trade, and 98% of Irish trade, is carried by sea and our waters are some of the busiest in the world, the potential for disruption, environmental damage and even loss of life resulting from interruption to the GNSS signals is of great concern.
1.7 Radar and visual aids are seen as a terrestrial backup to satellite systems as well as providing clear physical marking of wrecks, shoals and other hazards.
1.8 On 6th October 2004 the General Lighthouse Authorities published the Marine Aids to Navigation Strategy to 2020, known as '2020 The Vision'. This strategy document looks carefully at trends in navigational practices and determines a future strategy for the provision of both visual and electronic Aids to Navigation and forms the foundation of this review.
1.9

This is the second time that the three GLAs have conducted a total, simultaneous review of all their AtoN. In accordance with their Joint Navigation Requirements Policy document, it is the intention to conduct such a review every five years, in order to ensure:

  • "That the aids to navigation provided by the GLAs in the interest of general navigation are cost-effective and continue to meet the present changing need of all mariners and comply wherever possible with internationally-accepted criteria and
  • That timely reviews of the GLAs' aids to navigation are carried out to facilitate financial, operational and engineering planning."
1.10 Whilst each GLA has carried out its own review of its own AtoN, there are areas where the boundaries of two, or even all three, GLAs meet and where a concerted view has been necessary.
1.11

In producing the recommendations contained in the Review, therefore, the GLAs have:

  • Carried out their own internal study of the AtoN in their area of responsibility;
  • Selectively involved the users in initial discussions;
  • Carried out cross-border discussions with other GLAs;
  • Briefed individual GLA User Consultative Groups on the main recommendations arising out of the Review.
1.12 Each AtoN has been studied in isolation, as well as in relation to the other AtoN in its vicinity, which we refer to as the "mix" of AtoN.
1.13 An overall summary of the changes is contained in table 1 below.

Table 1: 2005 AtoN Review - Summary of the GLAs' Main Recommendations