About Trinity House

A Brief Outline of the History, Role and Functions

of Trinity House

Paul HoweCommunications Officer

Did you Know? 95% UK Trade by Sea*

*Chamber of Shipping. Figure by volume

Maersk McKinney MollerLength: 398mBreadth: 58m

Gross Tonnage: 194849Capacity: 18,000 teu

The Functions of Trinity House

The Functions of Trinity House

A Charitable organisation for the safety, welfare & training of mariners

The Functions of Trinity House

Deep Sea Pilotage Authority

The Functions of Trinity House

The General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and the Channels Islands

The Functions of Trinity House

Annual inspection and auditing of over 10,000 Aids to Navigation

The Functions of Trinity House

Responsible for marking and dispersing wrecks which are a danger to navigation

The Functions of Trinity House

The 3 GLA’s explained

Trinity House:England, Wales and the Channel Islands

Commissionersof Irish Lights:All Ireland

The NorthernLighthouse Board:Scotland and the Isle of Man

Trinity House Today 68Lighthouses

Trinity House owns some of the most famous lighthouses in the world

Trinity House Today

All Trinity House buoys are solar powered and carry an array of Aids to Navigation

447Buoys

Trinity House Today

Several Trinity House lighthouses are used as DGPS Base Stations

7DGPS Stations

Trinity House Today

Solarised Lightvessels form an important part of the Aids to Navigation mix

10Lightvessels

Origins of Trinity House

Royal Charter granted by Henry VIII to the Corporation of Trinity House

1514

Origins of Trinity House

Trinity House builds its first lighthouse at Lowestoft, Suffolk

1609

Origins of Trinity House

Eddystone becomes the first rock lighthouse in Europe

1689

Origins of Trinity House

First reliefs of Lighthouse keepers by helicopters trialled

1969

Origins of Trinity House

The conversion of Trinity House buoys to solar power is complete

1993

Origins of Trinity House

Keepers are withdrawn from North Foreland, the last manned Trinity House lighthouse

1998

Trinity House Lighthouses

Trinity House Lighthouses

We operate some of the most famous lighthouses in the world

Trinity House Lighthouses

Trinity House lighthouses monitored and controlled from OPC, Harwich

Funding

Funding

• Levy (‘Light Dues’) placed on ships visiting UK & Irish Ports

• Rates are set by Government

• Rates based on tonnage of the vessel

• Fishermen pay an annual fee

• Income from commercial work off-set’s running costs

• Light Dues funds the services provided by the three GLA’s

Leisure Services

Leisure Services – Patricia Voyages

Launched in 2003

Consumer Services – Lighthouse Holiday Cottages

A number of Lighthouse Keepers cottages transformed into holiday accommodation

Consumer Services – Visitor Centres

A number of Trinity House Lighthouses are open to the public as Visitor Centres

Full Circle…

Trinity House has played a vital role in sea safety for nearly 500 years

Questions & Answers