New Bill to Protect Lighthouses from Overshadowing Developments

2026-01-30 - 17:37

Lighthouses continue to play a vital role in maritime safety, despite advances in satellite navigation, according to experts. The chairman of the Icelandic Maritime Council has welcomed a new bill aimed at safeguarding these coastal beacons from being overshadowed by construction projects. The bill, currently in consultation, proposes that areas dedicated to shipping must be protected from developments that could jeopardise navigational safety. What's the Story? A new maritime safety bill is currently in consultation. The bill aims to prevent construction projects from blocking lighthouses. Lighthouses are seen as important for maritime safety, especially in emergencies. Páll Ægir Pétursson, chairman of the Icelandic Maritime Council, supports the bill. The Westfjords Regional Development Office acknowledges the importance of lighthouses but notes satellite navigation has reduced their primary role. The bill would require risk assessments before changing or moving navigational aids. Sailing by Norðurgarður lighthouse. Photo: Bjorn.thorvaldsson.is Concerns have arisen in the past when new buildings or infrastructure have blocked lighthouse signals, leading to potential risks for seafarers. As reported by RÚV, the legislation seeks to ensure that maritime safety is not compromised by these developments. Páll Ægir Pétursson, captain and chairman of the Icelandic Maritime Council, emphasised that lighthouses remain crucial, especially for guiding vessels into narrow harbours. He also warned against making changes to navigational aids without a comprehensive risk assessment. The Westfjords Regional Development Office also expressed support for the bill, noting that many lighthouses were installed decades ago and have become secondary to modern satellite navigation. However, they stressed that these beacons still serve as emergency backups when other systems fail. A notable example highlighted by Pétursson was the construction of a high-rise in Reykjavík, which obscured a lighthouse critical for guiding vessels into the harbour. A smaller, less effective lighthouse was installed in its place. “Maritime safety should always come first,” he concluded.