About Us
Who we are
GRAD provides research and development services to the three General Lighthouse Authorities of the United Kingdom and Ireland (GLAs), which are:
The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB)
Trinity House (TH)
Irish Lights (IL).
Each General Lighthouse Authority provides marine aids-to-navigation (i.e. lighthouses, buoys, beacons, major floating aids and virtual aids) within their waters to guide maritime traffic routes, warn of dangers and to keep maritime transport safe.
GRAD is hosted by Trinity House on behalf of the three GLAs. As such, GRAD team members are employees of Trinity House with legal, procurement and other support provided by our Trinity House colleagues.
Through cutting-edge research, technological innovation, and strategic development, we lead the evolution of maritime AtoN, contributing to the global research effort and supporting the standardisation and adoption of novel systems.
We also provide specialist engineering support, training and tools, to our GLA colleagues in the delivery and maintenance of marine AtoN and their supporting systems.
What we do
GRAD works on a wide range of technical projects and supports information exchange, knowledge sharing, international standardisation and policy.
Support & Innovation
Our work supports the GLAs to deliver their strategic aims. We conduct research into new methods or technology that can help make today’s AtoNs more effective or efficient. We also look to the future, developing, testing and trialling future systems, all with the aim of supporting our GLA colleagues in their delivery of effective and efficient marine AtoN.
Making a difference
Our work is broad, exciting and fulfilling – it allows us to make a real difference, not only to how vessels are kept safe in our waters, but by working with international colleagues we can influence how vessels, and those working at sea, are kept safe worldwide.
Who we work with
Whilst our primary work supports the GLAs in delivering their aids-to-navigation services, we also work with many national and international partners. We do so to ensure that our innovations can benefit all mariners, regardless of location, and to keep abreast of relevant developments that could be beneficial to the UK and Ireland.
In support of international harmonisation, GRAD team members are heavily involved in international standards and cooperation. For example, the team actively participate in technical meetings of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA), providing presentations and lead on technical development, as well as learning from others in the industry.
We work with governments, industry and academia from across the UK, Ireland, and beyond, to leverage our expertise and to learn from colleagues – working together to bring novel systems from conception to their implementation at sea.
Timeline:
The lighthouse authorities have hosted a research and development team since the mid-1950s – here are some of our accomplishments.