Report on Trinity House Users’ Consultative Group

John Hasselgren, 17/09/2023

Following the Covid 19 lockdown, and online meetings, the meeting took place in person this year. Chaired by Director of Navigational Requirements Commander Nigel Hare FRIN, the group met on board THV Galatea berthed alongside HMS Belfast on the River Thames opposite the Tower of London as part of London International Maritime Week. The first thing to comment on is the size of Galatea. At first sight, she seems to be almost as large as HMS Belfast. In fact, when checking the measurements of the two ships she is smaller than HMS Belfast, but with a broader stern and higher bow section as well as a dominating bridge she seems larger than when I saw her in Harwich a few years ago.

Trevor Harris, Navigation (Examiner) Manager was the first presenter. Following the sad death of Martin Thomas last year the Navigation team has been increased. Most work is mainly to do with floating Aids to Navigation (AtoN). Wind farm work is fairly intensive with two major wind farms being planned.

Lights inspections have been ongoing with 11,354 checks being made during the year. A new system has been introduced allowing other providers of lights to report their results.

The General Lighthouse Authorities’ 5-Year AtoN review is due to be published in 2025. In early 2024 stakeholders will be asked to comment on the draft version before final release.

Trinity House is currently evaluating the possibility of retiring Light Vessels, most of which are now fifty years old and require extensive maintenance.

One in particular is East Goodwin LV. Is it needed? Trinity House thinks not, believing it to be an obstruction to vessels, with a fair number of ships passing between it and the Goodwin Sands. It could be replaced with a Type 1 buoy. As one who, many years ago prior to GNSS, tried to use its light to take a bearing, I asked that whatever replaced it should have something other than one flash every 30 seconds. From a small vessel, this is almost impossible to do.

Greenwich LV is another likely to be removed. It was only positioned there to mark the beginning of the TSS when first introduced. As it marks no hazard it could be replaced by a buoy.

Long Sand Head is an area always in need of consideration. (Why is there so much need in the area where I used to sail?) For years the end of the sandbank has slowly moved to the North East, recently has been fairly static but has now speeded up. The real problem is that this movement is towards the TSS off Harwich. One option would be to move the buoys marking the bank to the North East, reducing the width of the TSS. Another possibility is to place a single buoy at the top of the bank which should leave more space for shipping.

Rob Dorey, TH Director of Operations took over and explained that Trinity House ran three vessels, Galatea, Patricia and Alert. Patricia is currently having an ongoing refit and Alert is due for an intermediate docking in February 2024. In addition, TH also charter a small vessel, for use in confined waters, especially around Wales. These all support TH lighthouse projects, planned seabed surveys and meet Risk Response criteria. All, however, require planned maintenance.

On the ability to respond to emergencies, we learn that Trinity House is tasked with different response times in different sea areas (sadly the slide was too far for me to see clearly from where I sat). Here, they have performed well. In areas with a 95% requirement to respond within 6 hours they managed 98.3%, with a 90% requirement in 12 hours it was 90.9% and where 85% was mandated in 24 hours 98.4%. They exceeded the requirement in each area, although they intend to improve, especially in those 12-hour response areas.

Lighthouse refurbishment and modernization projects completed include St. Tudwalls, St. Catherines and Lynmouth Foreland.  Flamborough Head, which is difficult of access, has been updated using standard TH equipment. The Needles Lighthouse update is continuing from March to October 2023. The light will be a static flashing LED although the old optic is being retained to give the correct colour sectors.

Work in the near future includes Trevose Head starting 09/2023 and is expected to be completed in 2024, while that at Cromer will run from 09/2024 until 02/2025.

Royal Sovereign Lighthouse is being decommissioned as it is falling apart as well as having become unnecessary. The jack-up barge needed for phase 1 is in place. A high lift barge to remove the top section is due on site on 23/09/2023. Phase 2 to remove the pillar is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024. The original concrete base has sunk into the sea bed and the pillar will be cut off 30 cm. above it.

The replacement of THV Patricia is still intended, and key requirements are being reviewed. Once done the market will be approached for quotes to build her.

Alwyn Williams from GRAD took over to explain that they are continuing with Field Measuring Equipment for lights, with the expectation of more accurate measurements. They are also developing tools to help design AtoNs and are involved in the introduction of the S100.

Pictured: THV Galatea