Technical Session 9 – Aids to navigation heritage - Discussion forum

Technical Session 9 – Aids to navigation heritage - Discussion forum

Chair:    Christian Lagerwall (Sweden)
Vice Chair    Carmen Martinez (Spain)

Introduction by Chair
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The following papers were submitted for consideration by the forum:

Preservation of Historical Fresnel Lens by Bearing Rotation System and Seismic Isolation System, Mr Hajime Kanda and Mr Makao Yamamoto, AtoN Engineering Division, Maritime Traffic Department, Japan Coast Guard

Presented by Cdr Hideki Noguchi
Large Fresnel lenses have been in use for many years as marine aids to navigation and thus have high historical value.  However, such large Fresnel lenses and their rotating system and mercury baths are very vulnerable to earthquake and nowadays it is almost impossible to reproduce them due to the cost.  Therefore the Japan Coast Guard has developed two special systems in order to preserve these large Fresnel lenses.  One is a bearing rotating system that replaces the mercury bath with ball bearings and another is a seismic isolation system that mitigates the movement of earthquake.  The presentation introduces these two systems.
1    The key points of the presentation were:
2    Preservation of historic Fresnel lenses.
3    Bearing rotating system.
4    Seismic isolation device.

Alternative use of lighthouses in Norway; obligations and positive effects of heritage emphasis, Arve Dimmen, Norwegian Coastal Administration

Presented by Arve Dimmen
The recent automation of lighthouses has led to a major shift in operation where the need for manned lighthouse stations is virtually non-existent.  As a result of this, properties and buildings no longer needed for the operation are in risk of severe damage due to lower maintenance and infrequent watch.  Many of the lighthouses and the surroundings are of considerable historic value; in Norway the Heritage Authority has listed 83 as heritage monuments according to The Act of Heritage.
In Norway, each governmental ministry is responsible for taking care of the heritage and cultural history within its areas of operation.  This includes both the documentation of the heritage value of the objects, as well as the preservation and maintenance of them according to the standards required by the Heritage Authority.  One solution to avoid the economical and practical challenge that face a Lighthouse Authority is to sell lighthouses and surrounding buildings in order to reduce the maintenance costs.  This was also done in Norway, and in the period from 2004 to 2006, 18 lighthouses were sold.
However, Norway has also experienced that it is possible to reduce the maintenance costs without selling the lighthouses.  Instead of selling, the lighthouses can be leased out to other bodies.  By retaining ownership, we still have the opportunity to guide the development of the lighthouses, and they can be preserved as heritage objects under the control of the lighthouse authority.
When leasing lighthouses, other organisations can administer the site, and one important criterion is to allow public access to the lighthouses.  People can enjoy the sites as well as understand the history and importance of lighthouses, as part of the local, national and international cultural history.
We will in this article explain how we have established co-operation with other bodies, such as county or municipal authority, non-governmental organisations (NGO), voluntary organisations and private promoters or commercial companies.  Furthermore we will give examples of lighthouses that are opened for the public and describe the alternative use of them.  In 2008 NCA has put approximately 70 Lighthouses on lease contracts
The key points of the presentation were:
1    Competence within own organisation:
a    Heritage manager;
b    Engineers, mariners, craftsmen.
2    Lighthouse museum:
a    Focal point for practical and theoretical challenges concerning heritage or maritime cultural history;
3    Co-operation based on leasing contracts
a    all alternative usage of the lighthouses should be in the public interest;
b    prioritize "tenants" in the following priority:
i    County- or municipal authority;
ii    Non-governmental organisations (NGO) or voluntary organisations;
iii    Private persons or commercial companies.
4    Networks, workshops, profiling
c    take part in many different networks to promote and ensure the heritage values;
d    important to keep the holistic view on the issue of heritage;
e    IALA’s EEP Committee is an important international arena for exchanging ideas, methods and best practice.

Managing Alternative Use of Light Structures, Lyndon O’Grady, Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Presented by Gerry Brine
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has many years of experience in managing the alternative use of light structures.
In particular, this paper will outline how AMSA manages tourist access to its traditional lighthouses.  Currently, there are thirteen towers open to the public and a further two in the process of being converted for public access.  AMSA has to deal with state government lessors and private tourism licence holders in managing these arrangements.
The paper will discuss the licensing conditions that AMSA has in place with third party operators and the Building Code of Australia (BCA) recommendations for building alterations required to make towers safe for public access.
Case studies of Macquarie Lighthouse in Sydney (site of Australia’s first lighthouse) and Table Cape lighthouse (built in 1888) located in Northern Tasmania, will be used.  Macquarie Lighthouse has undergone a significant internal refurbishment to preserve the fabric of the structure and enhance the visitor experience.  Table Cape lighthouse is currently undergoing conversion to allow safe access to the public and is expected to be open in 2010.  The case study will detail the processes involved in opening this particular tower which is fitted with an AIS base station and has also undergone a recent full low voltage electronics upgrade.
The presentation also discussed the AMSA Guide Training Course and the recent Self Accreditation Guide Training Course being implemented at a number of sites.
The key points of the presentation were:
1    How AMSA manages tourist access to its traditional lighthouses.
5    Alterations needed to buildings prior to opening to public.
6    Training of guides.
7    Use of specialist expertise in refurbishing historic lighthouses.

Challenges in the Preservation of Historical Lighthouses in Chile, James Crawford, Armada de Chile

Presented by James Crawford.
With the aim of conserving historical lighthouses in Chile, the Maritime Aids to Navigation Service has developed three strategies: a renewal plan, the proposal of lighthouses as historical monuments and the loan for use of them.  The first strategy is the renewal plan, which allocates funds to the maintenance of aids to navigation structures and facilities, especially those of historical value.  The second one was the proposal to the Government to proclaim Serrano, Magdalena Island and Cabo Posesión lighthouses as historical monuments.  The proclamation of these lighthouses was accompanied by legal protection by decree of cultural assets, which implies the guarding of facilities and avoiding their destruction.  The third strategy corresponds to the execution of a commodatum contract [loan for use] for San Isidro and Magdalena Island lighthouses, which implies the allocation of funds for the rebuilding of their facilities.
The key points of the presentation were:
1    Problems faced by the Chilean Maritime Authority during the lighthouses conservation process.
2    The experience with lighthouses considered within the renewal plan.
3    The experience with lighthouses proclaimed Historical Monuments.
4    The experience with lighthouses under commodatum contract regime.

To maintain and preserve: The case of the Amedee island lighthouse (New Caledonia), Vincent Guigueno, Direction des Affaires Maritimes - France

Presented by Vincent Guigueno
Opened November 15, 1865, Amédée lighthouse has operated for over 140 years the access to Noumea, capital of New Caledonia.  Symbol of the French colonial presence in the Pacific, the iron tower occupies a unique place in the architectural history of lighthouses.  The island on which the lighthouse is built, located 12 miles from the mainland, became a place of leisure and tourism after the Second World War.  Boats from Noumea and Australian ships came to enjoy the extraordinary environment of Amedee.  In the 1950s, the lighthouse keepers had to monitor these recreational activities.  Reception facilities were built in the early 1980s.  The area around the island became a marine reserve under the responsibility of the South Province of New Caledonia.  In 1994, the lighthouse was automated.
The paper, after a brief history of visits to Amedee Lighthouse, will show how the lighthouse authority, local authorities and tour operators combine tourism and sustainable development of the island.
The key points of the presentation were:
1    New Caledonia.
2    Lighthouse heritage;
3    Sustainable development.

Venezuelan Modular Lighthouses Project, Carlos Guillermo Ortigoza Vecino, Venezuelan Navy

Presented by Carlos Guillermo Ortigoza Vecino
The Venezuelan Navy, operates around 100 lighthouses in its national waters, the first of them built in 1842.  A modernisation plan started in 1999, which included the replacement of 16 working lighthouses and the construction of 12 new ones on the maritime and insular coasts of the country.  To accomplish this plan, a technology to satisfy the following principles was developed: a geographic scope greater than 15 NM; the production and installation on site at a low cost; a long or even everlasting structure; eventually, this would constitute a resource which should enable exploitation as a tourist attraction.
The project ‘Venezuelan Modulars Lighthouses’ consists in main building of concrete and fibreglass structural reinforced, approach of 36 to 120 feet focal plane.  Besides all the virtues so far mentioned, it will incorporate specific methodologies to avoid the degradation of the environment when installing the new devices.  These lighthouses increase the security rate on shore and reduce aquatic accident risks, especially from oil and other petroleum products and improve the international perception of the country, which may influence positively the tourist in the Caribbean area.
The key points of the presentation were:
1    Brief historical review of Venezuelan AtoN; development and evolution systems.
2    Goals.
3    Environmental aspects considered and feasibility of implanting the project.
4    Views of Venezuelan Modular Lighthouses Models.

"An Ocean in Mind" Ancient holistic navigation methods - e-Navigation without electronics? Hendrik Eusterbarkey, German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration

Presented by Hendrik Eusterbarkey
An holistic approach to the art of navigation in the framework of human culture shows the human ability of perception and cognition in interaction with nature.  An example for this is the old art of navigation in Oceania.  The old navigators were travelling with their canoes in an area of over 10 million square miles which forms the biggest cultural area on this earth.
They had a broad experience of how to draw conclusions from the ‘speak of the sea’ by observation of winds and clouds and birds and marine creatures.  They were able to perceive the direction of the waves for defining their sailing directions.  They used methods of observing the stars for navigation, bypassing instrumental measurement and mathematical formula and carried out without any instruments and technology on board.
The fascinating holistic approach of these ancient mariners with a unity of feeling, thinking and intuition should be kept in mind when creating and using modern navigation systems.  Human cognitive ability and the ability of holistic perception of the environment for achieving situational awareness is a basic factor for navigation, may be nowadays more than in any time before.
The key points of the presentation were:
1    Human cognitive ability and the ability of holistic perception of the environment for achieving situational awareness is a basic factor for navigation.
2    Nowadays – may be more than in any time before – an holistic cognition and sentience of the ocean, the marine environment and the whole space is essential for a mariner as a framework and as the last back-up to technical means.
3    Human cognitive ability and holistic perception as a basis for achieving situational awareness should be design aspects for an e-Navigation environment on the ship and in the shore-based facilities.