Oban - Operational basis
Technical operations are carried from the NLB Oban base where there are maintenance workshops and facilities for the construction of buoys and beacons. Our ships, NLV PHAROS and NLV POLE STAR are based in Oban.
The NLB has had a base in Oban since 1904. There are about 20 employees on this basis. The team ranges from administration, stores, information systems, helicopter and buoy coordination, base assistants and engineers.
Staff are engaged in the maintenance and refurbishment of floating aids to navigation (buoys) using modern and environmentally conscious processes.
The solar powered navigation buoys are maintained to the highest standard to allow for six years of continuous "on-station" deployment in harsh environments, after which the buoy is returned to Oban for refit after being replaced with an exact duplicate.
The buoy's refurbishment process includes descaling and paint application systems, ultra-high pressure cleaning, airless paint spraying, thickness testing, and monitoring and repair of electronic systems.