Trinity House Update on Vessel Project to Replace THV Patricia

24th June 2023

Jehan Ashmore

Trinity House's multi-functional tender, THV Patricia leading the Battle of the Atlantic 80th anniversary convoy on the River Mersey in Liverpool which was held last month. The 86m veteran vessel dating to 1982, operates around the coast of England, Wales and the Channel Islands undertaking aid to navigation maintenance work, towing, wreck location and marking amongst other projects. Credit: Trinity House-twitter

Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales and Channel Islands, will not award a contract for the replacement of THV Patricia under the current procurement process.

The GLA however intends to commence a new procurement process in due course.

The decision announced last month was made following a procurement process which was conducted in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The process resulted in no bids that fully met Trinity House’s requirements, and therefore no award will be made.

Delivery of its statutory obligations to provide aids to navigation for the safety of navigation within its areas of responsibility remains a high priority for Trinity House.

Following the completion of dry-docking the THV Patricia this year, the multil-functional tender has been fully recertified to UK Flag State requirements, and can for the time being continue to operate safely with our experienced crews.

The requirement for Trinity House to replace the multi-function tender THV Patricia (built in 1982) was agreed by the Maritime Minister following the conclusion of a thorough Fleet Review in 2018 that a layered fleet of seven ships provides the most pragmatic solution to meet the three General Lighthouse Authorities’ statutory obligations.

Asides the GLA of Trinity House, the other two GLA's are the Northern Lighthouse Board which is responsible for Scottish and Manx waters while Irish Lights covers the entire island of Ireland.

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About The Author

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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