Serving the Mariner since 1786 Journal Summer 2020 Story of a Buoy | NLB Stay at Home Lighthouse Competition | Maritime and Me Journal Contents SUMMER 2020 | ISSUE NUMBER 116 1 Welcome from Mike Bullock 3 Message from the Chair Mike Brew 22-23 4-5 Projects 6-7 Case study - Cape Wrath 8-9 Health, Safety & Environmental Update 14-1512-13 16-17 10-11 10 Vessel Replacement Project 4 11 to11 to15 15 8-9 11-15 4 Lighthouse Competition 12-15 16 18 Heritage Trust 17 Long Service & Special Recognition Awards 18-19 Museum of Scottish Lighthouses 22 to 23 12-15 20-21 12-15 Scurdie Ness 150th Anniversary 22-23 30-31 Story of a Buoy 24-27 Cover photo: PHAROS, Kyle of Maritime and Me Lochalsh. Photographer Charlie Phillips 30-31 Spotlight on our Apprentices 20 © If you would like to reproduce any 32-33 articles or photographs in the Journal, Spotlight on our People please contact the editor [email protected] or write to: 35-36 Fiona Holmes 84, George Street, Appointments/Leavers/Retirements Edinburgh EH2 3DA. Disclaimer: Published articles are not necessarily the views of the editor or the Nothern Lighthouse Board. More than Lighthouses - www.nlb.org.uk Welcome from Mike Bullock CHIEF EXECUTIVE f there was ever a time to be part But the daily exercise allowance of a great team this is it. Plenty of has given me the opportunity to Ichallenges have been thrown our discover much more about way over the last few months and Edinburgh. To avoid the ‘crowds’ I I’m proud to tell you that NLB’s set off around 6am and aim to find people, whether they be on the something new and interesting each ships, fixing Aids to Navigation, day to share via Twitter. I’ve seen refurbishing buoys, buying essential amazing sunrises, spotted supplies, planning for lighthouse remarkable bits of architectural refurbishment work or dealing with heritage (my favourite so far is the administration, have all adapted to Submarine shaped Tennents lager this new world we have suddenly pub sign in Newhaven), paid my found ourselves in. respects to Robert Stevenson at his tomb, stood wistfully next to FINGAL Sheldon the tortoise and Hank the cat Thanks to the tireless efforts of the wishing for one of their outrageously ICT team, for those whose roles good breakfasts and been alone at creativity of the output was an allowed, literally overnight, we landmarks such as the Castle absolute delight to see (entries shifted to homeworking. For many Esplanade and the Greyfriars included ships made out of cake). of us the days since the start of the Bobby memorial which are normally lockdown have been dominated by thronged with tourists. It has also been great to publically Zoom video meetings, and although celebrate the work we do with NLB it’s not the same, we are getting featuring on national TV including things done. What really makes this BBC Scotland’s news programme new and alien way of working the ‘Nine’ and Channel 4. effective is the strength of the underlying relationships. In some As restrictions begin to ease we cases those relationships have been are developing and implementing built up over decades and I really plans to deal with the ‘new normal’ don’t think this would be working of living with COVID. We have to Tennents submarine shaped lager sign in Leith quite so well if we were relative accept that some things will have strangers. Oddly, in some ways, as a team to be different, at least for a while we have become even closer. Each yet, but, as the articles in this edition Personally, I haven’t found the shift Friday there is a virtual coffee break of the Journal demonstrate, behind to working locked up in my house all where team members call in via the scenes we are largely getting on that easy and very much miss the Zoom from across the NLB empire, with business as usual. After all our face to face interaction with humans. including the ships when conditions customers still need and deserve the The chance meeting in the corridor allow. We have met children, pets best possible service for the safety with a Technician just returned from (I’m torn between Mhairi Wren’s of all. a job, a bit of a laugh before a tortoise Sheldon and Fiona Holmes’ meeting or the randomness of giant cat Hank as my favourite) and The readership of the Journal is as visitors to 84 George Street (the discussed everything from movies to diverse as it is loyal and I hope this most bizarre being a gentlemen from home-delivery cider. And following edition provides a bit of distraction the USA who came in to show us a suggestion put forward by Cathryn and light relief to your day. I wish his tattoo of Skerryvore – not sure Moir we ran a competition for NLB each one of you a healthy and safe anyone could have predicted that!) kids to design a lighthouse or a ship. summer. are all part of my joy of being NLB’s This created a great deal of activity in Chief Executive. homes across Scotland and the MIKE BULLOCK 1 Northern Lighthouse Board Journal Summer 2020 OUR MISSION : “ To deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-effective Aids to Navigation service for the benefit and safety of all Mariners” COMMISSIONERS OF NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSES (As at April 2020) 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 Brian Archibald 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 Aisha Anwar 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 Councillor Philip Braat The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow Sheriff Principal Duncan Murray WS Sheriff Principal of North Strathclyde Councillor Barney Crockett Lord Provost of Aberdeen Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle Sheriff Principal of Councillor Bill Lobban Grampian, Highlands and Islands Convenor of Highland Council Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen QC Councillor Len Scoullar Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders Provost of the Council of Argyll and Bute “In Salutem Omnium” For the Safety of All 2 More than Lighthouses - www.nlb.org.uk CHAIR’S MESSAGE Mike Brew he COVID-19 pandemic is technology, so I know that I speak for break was a great idea and is one a subject that we will never the entire Board when I express my way of continuing the informal links Tforget due to the terrible loss admiration and sincere thanks to all that ensure that work does not overly of life and the impact that it has had our staff, both ashore and at sea who dominate as well as enabling newly on all our lives. We have gone from have made the new arrangements found baking skills to be knowing little about corona viruses work so successfully. demonstrated! to being “experts” on appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, There have been some benefits from In the Isle of Man we have been social distancing and infection control the new ways of working which may subject to very similar restrictions to name but a few issues. well be adopted in future. With NLB as apply elsewhere in the UK, with acting as the catalyst a Maritime the notable addition that the Island’s Given the huge disruption that has Mutual Support Group was borders were closed on 27 March. occurred, it is incredibly satisfying established which brought together Travel to the Island is limited to and gives me a great pride to see a range of Scottish-based marine returning residents, non-residents how well NLB has continued to organisations including Marine visiting for compassionate reasons operate as it continues to discharge Scotland, CalMac, Northlink and local and those involved in maintaining its statutory responsibility for Aids authorities. The help and support that critical infrastructure. These people to Navigation (AtoNs). As MV Kaami the organisations brought to each require approval prior to travel and showed, following her grounding in other has been significant. are subject to either a quarantine late March in The Minch and process or other approved subsequent salvage over April and Although the Board has been greatly restrictions. NLB has established the May, the need to maintain our AtoN pleased to see the level of work that necessary contacts within the IoM estate and respond to faults is has been achieved we were very Government to ensure that if constant. conscious of the potential adverse technicians need to attend faults impact that isolation from colleagues here they can travel under the Conscientious and swift and friends could bring, due to “critical infrastructure” exemption. implementation of NLB’s Business working at home. It was reassuring These measures have enabled the Continuity plan (and our ICT team to hear at our April and May IoM to weather this particular storm working minor miracles) has resulted meetings (held virtually on Zoom) reasonably well but there is still a in home-working for all that needed it that arrangements have been put in long way to go. to become the norm, different place to provide support and advice.