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Serving the Mariner since 1786 Journal Winter 2019 London International Shipping Week | Vessel ReplacementA Royal Project Appointment | Oban Winter Festival Journal Contents WINTER 2019 | ISSUE NUMBER 115 1 Welcome from Mike Bullock 3 Message from the Chair Mike Brew 22-23 4-5 Health, Safety and Environmental Update 6 Operations Update 7 Vessel Replacement Project 14-1512-13 16-17 10-11 8-9 Maritime Insurance 8-9 10-13 4 London International Shipping Week 12-15 14 18 Heritage Trust Update 18-20 16-17 Museum of Scottish Lighthouses 18 ALK Visits North Coast Lighthouses 12-15 19 12-15 Book Reviews 20 The Keeper of Eilean Glas 22-23 20-21 HES to Review Scotland’s Historic Lighthouses 26-2724-25 24-25 Lighthouses of the Isle of Man 20 © If you’d like to reproduce any articles or photographs in the Journal, please 29 contact the editor Oban Winter Festival [email protected] or write to: Fiona Holmes 84, George Street, 30-34 Edinburgh EH2 3DA. Spotlight on our People Cover: Muckle Flugga Lighthouse Disclaimer: Published articles are not Photo credit: Robert Ionides, Electrical/ necessarily the views of the editor or 35-36 Electronic Technician the Nothern Lighthouse Board. Appointments/Leavers/Retirements More than Lighthouses - www.nlb.org.uk Another important, albeit somewhat A big thank you must go to RLK Barry less glitzy, achievement is the Miller for sourcing and organising the culmination of a huge amount of making of the new weather vane. behind the scenes work to prepare and transition NLB to meet the latest Once again I have been telling NLB’s International Organization for unique story to the public through Standardization’s (ISO) requirements. presentations. This included a dozen The final stage was completed in 30 minute sessions in the Board Room September with the award of ISO during 84 George Street’s Doors 45001:2018 for Occupational Health Open Day event. Although this was and Safety Management. This means somewhat of a personal marathon, the that NLB is now certified across the full genuine fascination and interest shown suite of disciplines which also include by our visitors kept me going. The Quality Management, Environmental audiences included a few NLB veterans Welcome Management and Information - thanks to all of you for not asking any Management Security and what’s more difficult questions! from Mike we are the first GLA to achieve this milestone. We also commissioned Looking ahead to 2020, we have a the Government Internal Audit busy year with a full programme of Bullock Agency (GIAA) to conduct an lighthouse refurbishments, independent audit of the Organisa- progressing the work to replace POLE CHIEF EXECUTIVE tional Change programme which has STAR, a major refit for PHAROS, been underway over the last couple commencement of an upgrade to the riting my article for the of years. I’m very proud to report that facilities at our HQ and so much more. Journal gives me a chance we came through with flying colours Wto reflect on all that has with a “Substantial” assessment and There is no doubt we are living through happened over the preceding six would like to publicly thank everyone strange times and it is anybody’s guess months and every time the immediate (and I mean everyone as this has been what the political situation will be by thought is it’s been really busy. The a whole-team effort) for working so the time you read this. However, there difference this time is that it has been hard to turn the theory into tangible are at least some absolute certainties really really busy. But what a period of improvements. one of which is that NLB will continue achievement for NLB. In my five years to provide its vital service for the Safety as part of NLB’s team, there have been In the early Autumn, as part of a of All. As the year closes, I would like lots of remarkable experiences, but safety leadership tour with Billy Byrne, to wish NLB’s staff, past and present, nothing comes close to witnessing, I joined Technicians Colin Dingwall neighbours and all readers of the first hand, a Piper playing on the floodlit and Ross Russell and our Principal Journal a very happy Christmas and helicopter deck as PHAROS sailed Mechanical Engineer Joe Hothersall at best wishes for the New Year. through Tower Bridge, at night, to start Corsewall as they replaced the weather her duties in support of London vane. Sounds an easy enough job, but International Shipping Week. working on top of a lighthouse dome over 100 feet from the ground, whilst The words I heard from those who installing a very heavy steel arrow is were there included - proud, amazing, far from straightforward. This is special, moving, spine-tingling, unique, routine stuff for NLB’s Engineers but emotional, wow and even gobsmacking nevertheless it illustrates the diversity - it was all of those things and more. of tasks that need to be done. The There are some great photographs original weather vane saw over 200 of the week on pages 10 to 13 which years of service and under the care of capture the atmosphere and activities. generations of NLB Engineers to However, in simple terms PHAROS come, the new one should last for and the supporting team did NLB, another 200! Scotland and the Isle of Man proud. I have a photo of my Grandad Sam welcoming Prime Minister Harold Wilson onboard a ship he served in Above: My Grandfather with PM Harold (pictured right) - now I’ve also Wilson. Left: old and new weather vanes welcomed a PM onboard our ship. Being NLB’s Chief Executive is definitely not an ordinary job! MIKE BULLOCK 1 Northern Lighthouse Board Journal Winter 2019 OUR MISSION : “ To deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-effective Aids to Navigation service for the benefit and safety of all Mariners” COMMISIONERS OF NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSES (As at December 2019) Captain Michael Brew (Chair) Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull Nominated by the Lieutenant-Governor of Isle of Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin Man and appointed by the Secretary of State Graham Crerar Captain Alastair Beveridge (Vice Chair) Elected by the Commissioners Elected by the Commissioners Hugh Shaw Rt Hon James Wolffe QC Elected by the Commissioners Lord Advocate Rob Woodward Alison Di Rollo QC Appointed by the Department for Transport Solicitor General of Scotland Elaine Wilkinson Sheriff Principal Ian R Abercrombie QC Appointed by Transport Scotland Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway Councillor Frank Ross The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Edinburgh Sheriff Principal Marysia Lewis Sheriff Principal of Tayside, Central and Fife The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow Sheriff Principal Duncan Murray WS Councillor Barney Crockett Sheriff Principal of North Strathclyde Lord Provost of Aberdeen Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle Councillor Bill Lobban Sheriff Principal of Convenor of Highland Council Grampian, Highlands and Islands Councillor Len Scoullar Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen QC Provost of the Council of Argyll and Bute Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders “In Salutem Omnium” For the Safety of All 2 More than Lighthouses - www.nlb.org.uk CHAIR’S MESSAGE Mike Brew here are as ever, many topics in October, we formally expressed Looking ahead, Graham Crerar will and events I could mention in our thanks to everyone involved for complete his time as a Tthis article but by far the most making NLB’s involvement in LISW Commissioner in April 2020 and the prominent and beneficial to NLB, in such a success. recruitment process for his which I was involved, was London replacement is well under way. International Shipping Week (LISW). For the third year running, NLB took We have made extensive efforts to By the time I arrived on Monday 9 part in Edinburgh Doors Open Day attract a wide range of candidates September, PHAROS was a hive of and across a weekend in September, so that the Board continues to have activity with the finishing touches we welcomed over 1,000 people an appropriate balance of knowledge being applied to the marquee on the to 84 George Street. The feedback and experience. aft deck for the evening’s event. from visitors both on the day and on Everything looked ship-shape and social media was entirely positive. The Commissioner’s Inspection well prepared but there was an We know we have an interesting and Voyages were completed with the underlying sense of nervousness relevant story to tell and by taking usual friendly and efficient assistance because hosting a string of high part in events such as LISW and of the crew of PHAROS. On the profile events for an international Doors Open Day we can engage with second voyage, I had the great conference was hardly normal a much wider and, hopefully, privilege of visiting the Flannan business. appreciative audience. Isles. The tragic history of this lighthouse was never far from our From what I saw from the outset Organisational changes continue to minds but what struck me most was nothing was too much trouble and bed-in but significant benefits can be how remote and wild these islands everybody worked promptly and seen in the improved operational and are. This was forcibly reinforced professionally. I was confident the financial performance. The 2018/19 by the great skuas or “bonxies” as week would go well but my Annual Report and Accounts were I have learned to call them, if we expectations were exceeded by completed and submitted to the strayed too far from the lighthouse some margin. The willingness to Department for Transport and laid compound.