Marine Navigation Light and its Maintenance

 Hello engineers, in this post, we are going to learn and discuss the navigation light. We will learn what is navigation light, how it work, its operation and maintenance as an electrician. We will also discuss about the circuit diagram of a navigation light. This knowledge is very important for an electrician who want to work on ships as a seaman or seafarer. So let's start.

Navigation lights help you and different boaters figure out which is the give-way vessel while experiencing each other around evening time. These lights should be shown from dusk to dawn and during times of confined perceivability, like haze. There are four regular navigation lights. 

Sidelights: These red and green lights are called sidelights (likewise called blend lights) since they are noticeable to another vessel drawing nearer from the side or head-on. The red light shows a vessel's port (left) side; the green demonstrates a vessel's starboard (right) side. 

Sternlight: This white light is seen distinctly from behind or almost behind the vessel. 

Masthead Light: This white light sparkles forward and to the two sides and is needed on all force driven vessels. (On power-driven vessels under 39.4 feet long, the masthead light and sternlight might be joined into an overall white light; power-driven vessels 39.4 feet long or longer should have a different masthead light.) A masthead light should be shown by all vessels when under motor force. The shortfall of this light demonstrates a cruising vessel since boats under sail show just sidelights and a sternlight. 

All-Round White Light: On power-driven vessels under 39.4 feet long, this light might be utilized to join a masthead light and sternlight into a solitary white light that can be seen by different vessels from any bearing. This light fills in as an anchor light when sidelights are stifled.

Marine Navigation Light

A navigation light, otherwise called a running or position light, is a wellspring of brightening on a vessel, aircraft or spacecraft. Navigation lights give information on a specialty's position, heading, and status. Their situation is commanded by global shows or common authorities. Navigation lights are not proposed to give enlightenment to the specialty making the section, just for other art to know about it.

Likewise with all methods of transport, the lighting frameworks utilized continuously are basic to the vehicle's wellbeing. Boats, being enormous develops, needs lighting frameworks as well! Indeed, the lighting framework set up for a vessel is basic to the protected navigation of the vessel; truth be told, it is perhaps THE MOST important parts of nautical examinations stressed on in school just as for competency tests. 

The essential capacity of marine navigation lights is to help anticipation of any major mishap from occurring. All boats – regardless of whether large or little are needed to have night lights as a piece of the navigation frameworks. This framework was presented in the year 1838 by the United States and afterward was trailed by the United Kingdom in 1849. In the year 1889, the International Maritime Conference was set up by the United States to build up appropriate rules to forestall marine mishaps. In the year 1897, these guidelines were authoritatively embraced globally. The color of the lights that were needed to be utilized as indicated by a bunch of rules passed in the UK. Based on this standard, three colors were picked: red, green and white. Indeed, even today, the marine navigation lighting comprises of these three colors.

Maintenance of Ship Navigation lights

Following safety procedures must be followed before doing any maintenance work on ship navigation lights

1. Prepare the work permit.
2. Put the lock out tag and inform the officer who is on duty.
3. Try to do the routine maintenance when the ship is in the port.
4. Before climbing up the main mast, take the working aloft permit.
5. Switch off the radars and take out the fuses.
6. Disable the power supply of the nearby ship whistle.
7. Switch off any other communication devices as the antennas, which are usually located near the mast, generate radiations harmful for humans.
8. While working on navigation lights at sea, check the wind flow meter for wind speed and direction. If the wind is heavy avoid climbing on the mast.
9. Check for rolling and pitching of the ship. If it’s too much, don’t climb the mast.

Maintenance of Navigation Light.

For Maintenance of marine navigation lights on ships, first of all, read the safety procedures. These navigation lights are located on the ship’s outside, at highest places of the vessel. The following factors thus affect these lights:

1. Water (sea and rain water).
2. Vibrations.
3. Sun light and wind.
4. Wire securing.

Some important points for your help to maintenance procedure of navigation light on ships.

• If the bulb of a navigation light is frequently getting fused, this is an indication of water ingress inside the circuit.
• Periodically check the light fittings for leakage of water
• Ensure to apply water resistant material like silicon or putty whenever the light fitting is opened up for replacing the bulbs
• Visually, check inside the casing for any salt formation. If salt formation is found, it means that the sea water has penetrated inside.
• Take fine clothes and cleaners for cleaning the glasses of the light fittings for good illumination/signaling
• Check the light holders inside the fittings for corrosion or fungus formation
• Use the contact cleaners for cleaning purpose whenever the light fitting is opened up 
• Ensure to use vibration absorber material like rubber gasket material wherever possible.
• While working on the navigation lights, check for any loose nut bolts and holders. Tighten and secure them whenever necessary.
• Use washers where nut bolts are used in light fixtures to avoid loosening of the nuts
• Clamp the structure where the light fixture is installed.

What maintenance procedures do you follow for navigation lights on ships? Write in the comment section below.