General Lighthouse Authority

A General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) is 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.

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.

Relationship between Local and General Lighthouse Authorities

Most ports and harbours authorities around the world operate their own local navigational aids to help mariners enter or exit the port safely. As such ports and harbours become Local Lighthouse Authorities (LLA).

Any navigational aids supplied by a LLA are normally inspected by the GLA to ensure they meet Internationally agreed standards and codes.

National Light

A National Light is a term used to describe a lighthouse, lightvessel or other visual aid, visible at night, which has been provided and maintained by a governmental department or agency known as a General Lighthouse Authority for the purposes of navigation at sea and maritime safety.

National Lights are so called because they are provided by a nation's government and may form part of a network of lighthouse protecting the country's coastline.

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

External links

• "Northern Lighthouse Board". http://www.nlb.org.uk/. 
• "Trinity House". http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/. 
• "Commissioners of Irish Lights". http://www.cil.ie/. 
• Charter of Trinity House