UK Government to review Light Dues charging

In June this year the Government announced the first light dues increase since 1993, which has proved to be a somewhat stormy issue amongst the shipping industry.

The UK Department for Transport and the Ireland Department of Transport have now appointed Atkins consultancy to undertake a far reaching review of aids to navigation around the two countries. Alongside this announcement the UK and Irish Transport Ministers agreed on the need for an assessment of the provision of aids to navigation around the UK and Ireland.

A spokesperson from The UK Department for Transport said, ‘Contributions from light dues play a vital role in keeping the UK waters safe. They say the need for the rise stemmed from a shortfall of around £20m in the General Lighthouse Fund due in part to the current global recession and the weakness of the pound against the Euro’.

The new review promises to move beyond the recent report examining the impact of raising light dues by consultancy firm Raven Trading, which was condemned by some as an attempt to legitimise tariff rises.

Areas being looked at in the new review include new technology, better working relationships and efficiencies between the three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA), as well as options for extending the current user charging regime.

Both Departments expect the evaluation to guarantee the GLAs remain world leaders in delivering reliable, efficient and cost effective aids to navigation service for the benefit and safety of all mariners.

Atkins consultancy will report back to the two Transport Departments in the spring. Lobbying groups have argued that the increase in light dues expected to take place from April next year are postponed until the findings from the new report are released.