The Commissioners of Irish Lights has announced the launch of its new Local Aids to Navigation Management Portal for use by ports, harbours, local authorities, and other bodies who manage aids to navigation at a local level.

This state-of-the-art online platform will enhance the management and reporting of aids to navigation services, ensuring safe and efficient maritime operations in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

There are over 3,500 local aids to navigation comprising lighthouses, buoys, beacons, poles, and signs that play a crucial role in ensuring maritime safety by assisting vessels in the identification of safe navigable waters and highlighting the locations of marine hazards for all marine users. They are used to maintain efficient and safe navigation routes while also marking aquaculture sites, identifying the locations of cables and pipelines, outfall pipes and the locations of recreation zones such as those used for swimming.

These local aids to navigation are managed by Local Lighthouse Authorities, including ports and harbours, local authorities, district and borough councils, who will rely on this new portal to fulfil their responsibilities effectively. The portal will also allow for the management of the statutory sanction consenting process which is required when an aid to navigation is being established, altered or removed. This ensures that the change has been risk assessed and that the information is included on nautical charts and publications for use by seafarers.

Irish Lights plays a crucial role in guaranteeing the safe and efficient operation of these vital services in Ireland, North and South, and is the authority responsible for the quality assurance of local aids to navigation services under the international SOLAS Convention.

To facilitate Local Lighthouse Authorities in executing their duties and meeting their legal obligations under the Merchant Shipping Acts, Irish Lights has developed an intuitive Geographical Information System (GIS) based management and reporting tool within the portal. This innovative solution enhances the situational awareness of the Local Lighthouse Authority by presenting the aid to navigation against the backdrop of the nautical chart, showing the position of adjacent hazards and including spatial measurement tools. The portal provides a documents facility for record keeping.

“Irish Lights has worked closely with the Local Lighthouse Authorities to create a portal that greatly improves maritime safety in Ireland. This portal serves as a central hub where information is managed, inspections are conducted efficiently, and comprehensive reports on local aids to navigation are generated. It enables seamless sharing of data among stakeholders, giving decision-makers the necessary tools to quickly report and manage dangers,” said Ronan Boyle, Director of eNavigation and Maritime Services at Irish Lights. “This portal provides an easy-to-use and reliable management and reporting tool based on GIS technology, empowering those using it to carry out their responsibilities more efficiently and effectively”.

The launch of the Local Aids to Navigation Portal coincides with the internationally-celebrated IALA World Aids to Navigation Day 2023, further demonstrating Irish Lights' dedication to global collaboration and the progress of aids to navigation practices worldwide. World Aids to Navigation Day celebrates the ever-increasing significance of maritime trade and the need to protect our oceans and those who navigate them, with Irish Lights' at the forefront of leveraging cutting-edge technology to safeguard maritime safety and protecting our coastlines in Ireland.

Today the Minister for Transport Mr Noel Dempsey T.D. announced the 2011 Estimates provision for his Department. The following are the principal features of the 2011 Estimates for marine affairs in his remit.

The 2011 capital provision will be €15 million, compared with €13 million in 2010. The principal item of capital expenditure is the provision of a search and rescue helicopter service (€8 million).  Also included is expenditure on the Irish Coast Guard, maritime safety and remedial works at regional harbours.

The 2011 provision will be €39 million unchanged from 2010 for current expenditure. The principal item of expenditure is the provision of a search and rescue helicopter service (€27m current expenditure).