| These days’ people are seeking something different from a holiday.
Many people are also looking for a higher level of comfort and service.
Trinity House is pleased to announce the commencement of Patricia Voyages
with effect from March 2003. This exciting development will give people
the opportunity to sail around the coasts of England and Wales in a working
ship.
Patricia is a purpose built aid to navigation tender of some 2500 tons. Her work programme requires her to cover the coast maintaining buoys, servicing lighthouses and lightships and, on occasion, dealing with shipwrecks that are a danger to navigation. The income generated from this venture will be used to offset the cost of maintaining the aids to navigation around the coasts. The waters around the United Kingdom are some of the busiest in the World, particular the Straits of Dover. The recent incidents surrounding the sinking of the Tricolor with its valuable cargo of luxury cars has reminded us that the sea remains a dangerous place. Fortunately partly because of the work of Trinity House incidents such as this are few and far between in our waters. Passengers are now able to join Patricia whilst she carries out her work. They will be accommodated in air-conditioned, en-suite cabins and will be able to enjoy their own dining and sitting rooms. This is the ideal chance both for those who simply want to relax and get away from it all or for those who are interested in watching the ship at work, who want perhaps to have the opportunity to visit those offshore lighthouses that are just a dot on the horizon or who wish to see the coast from a different perspective. The accommodation is of a high standard and has been used in the past by Board members, visitors to the ship and even by members of the Royal Family. HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh is Master of the Corporation of Trinity House and he is an active participant in the activities of the organisation. Individuals or groups, both private and corporate, can undertake voyages. Prices start from a competitive £180 per person per day for full board. Up to 12 passengers can be carried in 6 double-bedded cabins. This venture is being undertaken in association with Strand Voyages. Trinity House selected Strand because of their reputation in the commercial voyages market and their expertise in identifying potential markets. The Corporation of Trinity House is the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and the Channel Isles. It is responsible for the maintenance of over four hundred buoys, nearly one hundred lighthouses, thirteen lightships, radio and radar aids to navigation and the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), a high accuracy satellite position fixing system. The Corporation was constituted under a Royal Charter granted by Henry VIII in 1514. Subsequently it has received fourteen such Royal Charters or Grants from succeeding monarchs. Within the scope envisaged by its charters Trinity House has been entrusted by Parliament with its statutory duties within the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. In addition the Corporation is a charitable body administering monies on behalf of a number of marine charities. It is also responsible for the licensing of Deep Sea Pilots. For further information contact: Marketing Department
|