core sector communique

INCHCAPE SHIPPING SERVICES CELEBRATES LIGHTHOUSE BICENTENARY OFF THE INCHCAPE REEF

 

  BATON HANDOVER SIGNALS START OF ISS LIGHTHOUSE RELAY VOYAGE

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        08 February, 2011

 

 

With a stiff south westerly whipping up the white horses, the Northern Lighthouse Board’s NLV PHAROS stood off the treacherous Inchcape Reef as Inchcape Shipping Services’ CEO, Capt. Claus Hyldager, handed over the ISS Lighthouse Relay Voyage baton as it commenced the first leg of its ambitious voyage.

 

“This occasion marks the bicentenary of the initial lighting of the Bell Rock Lighthouse in 1811,” said Capt. Hyldager. “100 years on in 1911, our founder James Lyle Mackay, took his title from the Inchcape Reef on which the lighthouse stands. Now 200 years on, we are here to celebrate this remarkable engineering feat and to launch our ISS Lighthouse Relay Voyage,” he said, handing the engraved relay baton containing a scroll with the names of the nominated charities of each country, to ISS UK General Manager, Mr Kevin Cool.

 

“The Bell Rock Lighthouse has saved countless lives since it was first lit 200 years ago,” he said. “It therefore has a strong symbolic connection to our own Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

 

“This marks the beginning of an important voyage across our World of Local Expertise,” continued Capt. Hyldager. “The baton will be transferred by ship - from country to country to over 60 territories around the world, recording the fund-raising activities of our staff across the ISS network.”

 

“The charities listed here represent a cross section of society that one way or another, are not as fortunate as us. It is only right that we should be helping out those communities amongst which we do business.”

 

“Each charity has been chosen by our local country managers who have embraced this CSR initiative whole-heartedly and who are now responsible for organising the necessary events to raise funds for local causes. Their aim is to ensure donations reach our minimum target of US$1,000 per country plus match funding by ISS of a further US$1,000.”

 

“And we do not intend to stop with its first circumnavigation. This will be an ongoing initiative marking our commitment to helping the sick, the underprivileged and disadvantaged in those places where we operate.”

 

HRH The Princess Royal and Shipping Minister Penning join the celebrations

 

ISS’ guests at the blustery ceremony 12 miles off Scotland’s east coast included Mike Penning MP, Under Secretary of State for Shipping, the 4^th Earl of Inchcape, ISS customers and leading maritime journalists.

 

The handover was followed by a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse hosted by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Northern Lighthouse Board in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

 

A painting, ‘Rain Squall on the Bell Rock Lighthouse’, was donated to the Northern Lighthouse Board by John Lowrie Morrison, known as Jolomo, one of Scotland’s best loved contemporary artists. Earlier in the day the NLB had kindly played host on their vessel, the PHAROS, to the ISS party for the trip out to the lighthouse.

 

A conference entitled “The Bell Rock Lighthouse, the Stevensons and Emerging Issue in Aids to Navigation,” organised by the RSE, was held the following day.

 

The events were sponsored by Inchcape Shipping Services