Displaying items by tag: Scottish & Manx waters

9th July 2021

Scotland & Isle of Man: Northern Lighthouse Board to Replace Aids to Navigation Tender NLV Pole Star

Image of Northern Lighthouse Board's newbuild buoy-tender vessel to replace NLV Pole Star, based in Oban, west Scotland. As AFLOAT adds the vessel built in 2000 by Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow, for NLB, one of three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) in Ireland & UK, has carried out duties on behalf of Irish Lights where operations dictated redeployment of vessels. For example AFLOAT notes NLV Pole Star has worked out of Dun Laoghaire Harbour having berthed at the jetty of the East Pier.

The General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for Scotland and the Isle of Man, the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) has embarked on a project to replace the NLV Pole Star after more than two decades in service.

NLV Pole Star is nearing an end of a career with a newbuild target in-service date of September 2024. This will see the replacement aids to navigation tender meet the ambitious environmental targets set out in the UK Government Clean Maritime Plan, whilst future-proofing NLB’s ability to deliver its vital safety services over the next 25 years.

The new vessel will incorporate contemporary green hybrid energy systems and will be designed to be upgradeable through-life to accommodate emerging power technologies. The vessel will also provide improved sea keeping and heavy weather performance over its predecessor and therefore be able to deliver more effective response to wrecks and new navigational dangers as well as routine operational tasking.

A concept design has been developed in collaboration with OSK-ShipTech of Copenhagen who assisted the project team, which includes ship and shore staff, NLB Commissioners and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). This concept design and detailed specification is being used to inform both the business case and procurement exercise.

Mike Bullock, NLB’s Chief Executive said: “This is a very exciting project and we are delighted to have recently received Ministerial and Cabinet Office approval of the Outline Business Case (OBC). This means we can now progress to the procurement phase for the design and build of the new vessel.

“The new vessel will be a step change from what has gone before bringing innovation and new technology to minimise the impact on the environment and ensure that we can continue to protect mariners operating in Scottish and Manx waters. The vessel will also follow a tradition which started in 1892 by being the fifth NLB vessel to bear the name Pole Star.”

The procurement exercise began on 19 May 2021 with the publication of the initial call for interested shipyard builders to respond to a Selection Questionnaire. Subsequently, short listed yards will enter into a detailed tendering exercise which will lead to contract award in mid-2022.

In April, information from NLB’s Industry Engagement events was held and can be found on the NLB website and via the following Industry Event portal here.

This opportunity has been published on Delta eSourcing which is a tool for buyers and suppliers for managing tenders. Interested tenderers must register on the Delta Platform to access key documents and to take part in this procurement activity, click this link.

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About the Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race is the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. Off shore yacht racing changed forever with adventurers and sailors, inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, following in his pioneering wake. Nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. History was made. Navigating with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world. In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the worlds media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. The original race is back.

The Golden Globe Race: Stepping back to the golden age of solo sailing

Like the original Sunday Times event back in 1968/9, the 2018 Golden Globe Race was very simple. Depart Les Sables d'Olonne, France on July 1st 2018 and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables d'Olonne. Entrants are limited to use the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Robin Knox-Johnston in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite-based navigation aids.

Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 and having a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. These yachts will be heavily built, strong and steady, similar in concept to Robin's 32ft vessel Suhaili.

In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the 'Golden Age' of solo sailing. Suhaili was a slow and steady 32ft double-ended ketch based on a William Atkins ERIC design. She is heavily built of teak and carried no computers, GPS, satellite phone nor water-maker, and Robin completed the challenge without the aid of modern-day shore-based weather routing advice. He had only a wind-up chronometer and a barograph to face the world alone, and caught rainwater to survive, but was at one with the ocean, able to contemplate and absorb all that this epic voyage had to offer.

This anniversary edition of the Golden Globe Race is a celebration of the original event, the winner, his boat and that significant world-first achievement. Competitors in this race will be sailing simple boats using basic equipment to guarantee a satisfying and personal experience. The challenge is pure and very raw, placing the adventure ahead of winning at all costs. It is for 'those who dare', just as it was for Knox-Johnston.

They will be navigating with sextant on paper charts, without electronic instruments or autopilots. They will hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves.

Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency and ham radios allow.

It is now possible to race a monohull solo around the world in under 80 days, but sailors entered in this race will spend around 300 days at sea, challenging themselves and each other. The 2018 Golden Globe Race was a fitting tribute to the first edition and it's winner, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Background on Don McIntyre (61) Race Founder

Don is an inveterate sailor and recognised as one of Australia s greatest explorers. Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, his desire is to recreate the Golden Age of solo sailing. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race. In 2010, he led the 4-man Talisker Bounty Boat challenge to re-enact the Mutiny on the Bounty voyage from Tonga to West Timor, in a simil