Trinity House, founded by Royal Charter in 1514, is the General lighthouse authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar. It maintains navigational aids such as lightvessels and buoys, as well as communications services and pilotage for ships in the North Sea. These are financed by dues levied on commercial vessels calling at ports in the British Isles. In addition, Trinity operates a registered charity, which provides welfare services for retired seamen, education, and promoting safety at sea. Funding for this is generated separately. Source: Wikipedia (en)