On the 6th of October 2016 An Post issued a stamp to commemorate The Commissioners of Irish Lights.
The Commissioners of Irish Lights (Irish Lights) is a unique organisation that provides an essential safety service around the coast of Ireland, protecting the marine environment and supporting the marine industry and coastal communities.
Ireland has had lighthouses for a very long time: the oldest still inuse today dates back well over 1,000 years to perhaps the 5th century. Then, the monks of Rinn Dubháin in Co. Wexford (now known as Hook Head), lit a beacon to warn shipping away from dangerous rocks.
Today, Irish Lights provides and maintains over 300 general aids to navigation, lighthouses for example. They manage about 4,000 local aids to navigation (buoys, etc) and marks or removes dangerous wrecks outside harbour areas.
Irish Lights is crucial to the safety of our nation and to the success of our economy: 95% of our imports and exports are carried on ships. Each year, over 30 million tonnes of goods, almost 4 million passengers and more than 1 million containers pass through Irish ports and Irish Lights make sure it’s plain sailing for all of it.
There are four stamps in the collection designed by Vermillon Design and they feature Irish Lights staff working on a Buoy; a helicopter at work near Fanad lighthouse in Donegal; the technology Irish Lights offers to the sea user; and the ILV Granuaile, the service’s multifunctional vessel.
http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/IrishStamps ... houses.htm
Built as a buoy lighthouse tender under yard no 940 by Damen Galati, Galati, Romania for the Irish Light, Dublin.
26 July 1998 laid down.
14 August 1999 launched as the GRANUAILE MEANING: Described as “one of the most remarkable women in Irish history” Granuaile or Grainne Ni Mhaille (ang. as Grace O’Malley) was a renowned sea captain who led a band of 200 sea-raiders from the coast of Galway in the sixteenth century. Twice widowed, twice imprisoned, fighting her enemies both Irish and English for her rights, condemned for piracy, and finally pardoned in London by Queen Elizabeth herself, her fame was celebrated in verse and song and in James Joyce’s “Finnegan’s Wake.” She is often seen as a poetic symbol for Ireland.
Tonnage 2,625 grt, 787 nrt, dim. 79.69 x 16.10 x 6.75m.
Powered by 5 MAN & B&W diesel engines each 700 kW, two Schottel rudder propellers, speed 13 knots.
One 1,100 kW bowthruster.
Fitted out with a towing winch, bollard pull 40 ton.
Helicopter pad located forward, can operate helicopter only during daylight.
Accommodation for 16 crew and 10 others.
After launching towed to the Damen Shipyard in Gorinchem, Netherlands for fitting out under yard no 1940.
31 January 2000 delivered to owners. Homeport Dublin. IMO No 9192947.
After delivery used around the coast of Ireland. Is also available for charter work.
2016 In service.
Ireland 2016 0.72 Euro sg?, scott?
Source: http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz various internet sites.