Friday, January 18, 2013

A Look At Underwater Boat Lights

By Annabelle Newton


The need for navigational lights in the marine sector was highlighted as an effort to reduce the number of vessel collision at sea. Strong lights are ideal for conveying a message from one boat to another across long distances on a dark windy night. In the recent past the underwater boat lights category has been added to the conventional red, green and white lights.

On crowded waters, a boat may install a flashing yellow beacon to create more awareness. These navigation aids are simply colored sources of light energy strong enough to be viewed across considerable distances. Red lights are located on the port side while green sources are on the starboard side. Depending on the orientation of two vessels with respect to each other, the operators will be able to determine who has the right of way long before they meet.

Also known as the starboard, the right side is recognized as the area from where the captain runs his vessel. It contains a vantage point, steering mechanisms and communication equipment for the ship while at sea. The starboard yard will feature communication antennae and a flag or pennants as some form of identification.

The port, identified by a green light might have been so named from the practice of mooring a boat on the left side. This was necessary to avoid damaging the right sided oar by scraping against obstacles at the port. The waters are likely to be occupied by vessels of differing size and design with their paths crossing at some point.

Thus a small boat may be positioned such that its captain sees the green light of a large cargo liner. According to some well thought out rules, the former may be required to give way owing to the possibility of a constraining draft that limits the ship to its current line of motion. Moreover, large vessels may be restricted in ability to rapidly change their path on water.

It is likely that a one boat may technically take longer to change its course and will thus be considered to have the right of way. The argument that a green light means proceed is thus challenged when some facts are put into consideration. Any successful skipper will know that experience and an updated knowledge on prevailing marine rules could mean the difference between a safe voyage and a grisly accident.

It must be appreciated that risks exist whenever a boat is afloat on a voyage. Without proper control of developing situations, a hazard will progress to danger and peril. The range of possible accidents is topped by a mishap that suddenly leaves all on board in water. The first lessons to all potential crew members should tell them what to expect when sudden immersion in water occurs.

All over the world, it is deemed that the captain will be legally responsible for all persons and cargo on a vessel under his command. It is recommended that the skipper personally conduct some routine checks before leading a boat to sea. A report must be prepared detailing the condition of all systems including underwater boat lights.




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