How Are Navigation Lights Maintained On A Ship?

How Are Navigation Lights Maintained On A Ship?

Despite recent advances in marine navigation technology, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), Electronic Display and Information System (ECDIS), and numerous other satellite signal systems, navigation lights still play a vital role in maritime navigation .

These signal lights have been an integral part of ship navigation procedures for decades, and due to their frequent use, they have become part of routine maintenance procedures.

Navigation lights are used when ships are navigating near coastal areas, in heavily trafficked waters, maneuvering in ports, and even at sea. They help indicate a ship's position, condition, and direction to other nearby vessels, helping to avoid collisions at sea. They are the first form of non-verbal communication a ship uses with neighboring vessels while underway.

Navigation Lights

Navigation lights and ship signal lights are located in these areas, making them clearly visible even from a distance. However, accessing these elevated areas to maintain these lights is extremely dangerous, especially when the ship is underway. There are three important locations for navigation lights on a ship:

• Foremast
• Mast
• Mast
• Aft Light Signal Station

Maintaining Navigation Lights

Before performing any maintenance on a ship's navigation lights, the following safety procedures must be followed:

• Prepare a work permit
• Wear a lockout badge and report to the officer on duty
• Try to perform routine maintenance while the ship is in port
• Obtain a topwork permit before climbing the mainmast
• Disable radar and operate fuses
• Disable whistles of nearby vessels
• Disable any other communication equipment, as antennas often located near masts can emit harmful radiation.

When operating navigation lights at sea, use an anemometer to check wind speed and direction. Avoid climbing the mast if the wind is strong. Make sure the vessel is steady. Do not climb the mast if the wind is excessively strong.

More Northern Lights soon as Sun storms strengthen

Automatic Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER)

DNV Green Lights Shift Of Chief Engineer From Ship To Shore

What does Celestial Navigation do?

How Does A Wind Indicator Help With Navigation?

Factors Affecting Navigation Lights and Maintenance Procedures

Maintaining a ship's navigation lights is crucial to vessel safety. These lights are located high outside the ship. Therefore, the following factors can affect these lights:

a) Water (seawater and rain)

b) Vibration

c) Sunlight and wind

d) Mounting threads

Let's understand how each factor affects navigation lights.

a) Water (seawater and rain)

Water poses a significant threat to all electrical systems on board. Water ingress can cause electrical fires due to short circuits. Since all navigation lights are located outside the ship's deck, they are susceptible to the harmful effects of seawater, rain, and atmospheric humidity.

For this reason, navigation lights are typically installed in weatherproof and moisture-proof areas. However, despite these weatherproof housings, there is still a high risk of water ingress due to rust and system leaks caused by frequent opening of the housing to change bulbs.

Note: If the navigation light bulb repeatedly blows, this indicates water ingress.

Regularly inspect the headlights for water leaks.

Every time you replace a bulb, be sure to use a waterproof material such as silicone or putty.

Visually inspect the inside of the light housing for salt accumulation. If salt accumulation is observed, it indicates that seawater has infiltrated. Clean the headlight glass with a cloth and a suitable cleaning product to ensure good illumination/signaling.

Inspect the bulb holder inside the light fixture for corrosion or mold.

Use contact cleaner to clean the bulb.

B) Vibration

Mechanical vibrations are present everywhere in the engine room when the vessel is in operation. Because the navigation lights are located at the highest point of the vessel, they are constantly subject to vibration when the main engine is running. This is another cause of bulb failure.

Make sure to use vibration-absorbing materials, such as rubber washers, whenever possible.

While operating the navigation lights, check for loose bolts or brackets. Tighten and secure as necessary.

Use washers to secure the headlight bolts to prevent the nuts from loosening.

Secure the light housing.

c) Sunlight and Wind

This is a factor that can affect your ship's navigation lights, so there's not much you can do about it.

Continuous sunlight exposure often shortens the lifespan of navigation lights, especially those made of plastic. Therefore, it's best to install weather-resistant copper navigation lights.

d) Fixed Wiring

The mast-mounted navigation light cables can often become tangled or loose due to exposure to wind and rain. Check the cables for loose connections and secure them with cable ties. Check the condition of these cables regularly.

All navigation lights on board are installed in pairs, two at a time. If one fails, the other is replaced. However, it's important for officers to perform regular maintenance checks on these lights and check for any light/bulb failure alarms.