General Lighthouse Authority
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) is defined as being a dedicated Government Agency of a Country or Nation tasked with and responsible for the provision and maintenance of lighthouses, lightvessels, navigational aids and any other equipment or facilities which ensure the safety of mariners and sailors navigating the country's territorial waters, seas or oceans.
A GLA should not be confused with the Coast guard whom also are responsible and concerned with the safety of mariners / sailors at sea but to which have a slightly different role.
In many countries across the world therefore the General Lighthouse Authority is separate to (but works closely with) the Coastguard.
Conversely in some countries the coast guard is the General Lighthouse Authority.
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[edit] Local Lighthouse Authorities
A Local Lighthouse Authority (LLA) may refer to a Port, Harbour or other responsible Authority which provides local navigational aids and/or lighthouses as part of its facilities.
A local lighthouse authority however will ultimately subscribe to the General Lighthouse Authority's policy on the correct maintenance and provision of such equipment.
[edit] Relationship Between Local and General Lighthouse Authorities (LLA & GLA)
A crude example of the relationship between a GLA and a LLA is given below.
The construction of a new harbour has taken place in a fictitious town called "Seavile" in a country called "Oceana"
The General Lighthouse Authority of Oceana already provides many lighthouse across the country.
Because of the risk to shipping posed by the new harbour walls the GLA makes a requirement for Seaville Harbour to build a Lighthouse at the harbour entrance.
It is a legal requirement which the Harbour must comply with.
The GLA further states that Seaville Harbour must pay for the lighthouse to be maintained.
If the harbour fails to comply with the GLA's requirements it may be prosecuted for contravening Maritime Safety Laws and endangering mariners and sailors.
Subsequently the Harbour builds and maintains its own lighthouse and thus becomes a Local Lighthouse Authority sepreate to but in compliance with the General Lighthouse Authoirty
In short a Local Lighthouse Authority (LLA) provides safety aids along local shorelines and in ports and harbours inline with the specifications and laws governed by the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA).
[edit] See Also
- Trinity House - The GLA for England Wales, Channel Islands and Gibraltar
- Northern Lighthouse Board - The GLA for Scotland and the Isle of Man
- Commissioners of Irish Lights - The GLA for the whole of Ireland
- Coastguard
- National Lights
