New aids to Navigation make Strangford Lough safer for vessels
A new system of aids to navigation has been installed in Strangford Lough during March 2011, making a huge improvement to safety on the Lough and boosting efforts to increase water based recreation for tourism and sport.
Lights and marks at key points will guide vessels to the Lough's main mooring areas and will appear on Admiralty Charts.
Any failures to the new Aids to Navigation should be reported to the Estates Management Department in Down District Council (028 4461 0868 or to: estates.management@downdc.gov.uk). There is obviously a warranty period from the supplier, so important to pick up any failures if they do occur.
The charts below are also available to view in more detail (Adobe pdf 2.6Mb).
The work is being funded by European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development via the Down Rural Area Partnership and by the Ards Borough and Down District Councils. Both local authorities will manage the new system through the Commissioner of Irish Lights.
The system is based on recommendations from the former Strangford Lough Management Advisory Committee, now the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership who worked for over a decade along with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to develop the proposals and encourage the relevant statutory authorities to carry out the work.
Isabel Hood, Chairman of the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership, herself a keen sailor, said "Strangford Lough has the capacity to be a centre for international sailing events and these aids are the first steps towards that aim." She commended the efforts everyone who had over many years worked to develop a system that would be acceptable and workable.
Richard Newell from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said; "These new navigation marks will make a significant contribution to improving safety of navigation on the Lough. It has taken a lot of effort over a number of years to get to this point and I want to thank all those who have put in so much time, commitment and especially finance to get us here. With the use of the Lough increasing every year. I know this will make it a safer place for everyone to enjoy"
Gil Stevenson of the Association of Strangford Lough Yacht Clubs also welcomed the new system.
"Strangford Lough is a major yachting and boating centre in Northern Ireland, with 12 clubs located on its shores.
We have waited a long time for these important safety features, and now we look forward to both local and visiting sailors benefiting from them.
We are greatly appreciative of the expert help and advice brought to this project from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and the Crown Estate Commissioners, and we congratulate Ards Borough Council and Down District Council for bringing the project to completion.
I would like to express my special thanks to the Strangford Lough Management Advisory Committee and the staff of what is now the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership for the support and facilitation provided to the project over the years."
The vessel 'Cameron' owned by Briggs Marine of Fife carried out the installation.
Nell McGill of Briggs Marine commented on the great co-operation his company had received from all concerned as they installed the aids.
This article first appeared in the Newtownards Chronicle on Tuesday 24th March 2011.