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Steel-Cutting Ceremony for Northern Lighthouse Board’s New Hybrid Powered Aids to Navigation Vessel

1st November 2023
At a ceremony for the first steel plate cut for the Northern Lighthouse Boards aids to navigation tender, built in Spain, was attended by Graham Moffat, Technical Manager, NLB, Javier Martín-Arroyo Borrajo, Gondán Shipbuilders, Phil Day, Director of Operations, NLB and Fernando González also of the shipyard in Asturias. The newbuild replaces NLV Pole Star, as the successor of the same name is to enter in 2025 to support vital safety service to mariners off Scotland and Isle of Man.
At a ceremony for the first steel plate cut for the Northern Lighthouse Boards aids to navigation tender, built in Spain, was attended by Graham Moffat, Technical Manager, NLB, Javier Martín-Arroyo Borrajo, Gondán Shipbuilders, Phil Day, Director of Operations, NLB and Fernando González also of the shipyard in Asturias. The newbuild replaces NLV Pole Star, as the successor of the same name is to enter in 2025 to support vital safety service to mariners off Scotland and Isle of Man. Credit: Northern Lighthouse Board / Astilleros Gondán

A steel-cutting ceremony for the Northern Lighthouse Board’s new state of the art hybrid powered vessel, which is to serve off Scotland and the Isle of Man, took place in a Spanish shipyard, Astilleros Gondán S.A.

Phil Day, Director of Operations with the Northern Lighthouse Board said: “The steel cutting ceremony is an important milestone as it marks the moment when production starts on the build of the new Pole Star, following an intensive 10-month period of detailed design work.

“Using new technology to minimise the impact on the environment and with additional capability to help deal with the effects of Climate Change, the new ship will ensure we can continue to deliver our vital safety service in Scottish and Manx waters into the 2050s.”

As Afloat previously reported the £51.8m newbuild is to enter service in Summer 2025 and will meet the ambitious environmental targets set out in the UK Government Clean Maritime Plan, whilst future proofing the Northern Lighthouse Board’s ability to deliver its vital safety services over the next 25 years.

NLB representatives Director of Operations, Phil Day and Technical Manager, Graham Moffat were also present at the event on Friday, 23 October, in a day that celebrated the exciting milestone.

The NLB is the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) which is responsible for aids to navigation in the waters around Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Published in Lighthouses
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Irish Lights is a maritime organisation delivering essential 24/7 safety and navigation services around the coast of Ireland 365 days. Its focus is reliable and cost-effective services which protect people, property and the marine environment, and support marine industry and coastal communities.

Irish Lights is responsible for providing marine aids to navigation under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. This remit includes: providing and maintaining over 300 general aids to navigation, managing about 4,000 local aids to navigation and marking or removing dangerous wrecks outside harbour areas around Ireland. Irish Lights also provides contract commercial services for ship charter, buoy and marine data services and supports tourism and heritage activities.

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