Performance Standards for Navigation lights- A summary

Navsregs>COLREGS>Navigation light performance standards
And now,  the dive down into navigation light regulations now hits the bottom of detail with an IMO resolution. 

The post in Navigation light series gives a quick summary into the performance standards required of vessel’s navigation lights.

What document gives the performance Standards for Navigation lights?

​Resolution MSC.253(83)

Performance Standards for Navigation lights, Navigation Light Controller and Associated Equipment

Click here for the document>

Navigation Light equipment should be designed, tested, installed and maintained based on these standards.

What is the purpose of Navigation Lights?

• Identify ships
• Notify their intentions at sea 

What is the purpose of a Navigation Lights Controller?

is to provide means of:

• Control of Navigation lights
• Monitoring of the status of Navigation lights 

What is covered in MSC 253?

1 Scope

2 Application

3 Definitions

• Associated equipment
• COLREGs
• Lamp
• Length
• Navigation Light (NL)
• Navigation Light Controller (NLC)
• SOLAS

4 Navigation Lights

• General
• Luminous intensity distribution
• Special requirements for lights using LEDs

5 Navigation Light Controller

• On off switches
• Status indications
• Pre-programming
• Alarms
• Dimming
• Interfaces

6 Power supply and fallback arrangements

• Need for separate circuits
• Ability to operate  by an emergency source

• Automatic switch over to the alternative source of power is permitted.

7 Associated equipment

• General requirements for  associated equipment
• Screens for sidelight may be a part of a ship’s structure.

8 Marking

The markings that each Navigation Light should have.

9 Installation of navigation lights and associated equipment.

The general requirements required of navigation lights

10 Maintenance

• The requirements for the ease of replacing the lights
• The requirements for the ability to maintain the lights

The next post will look at some of these performance standards in more detail.

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A Break from the heavy Reading

Click on the book hunt below to search for some poems of the sea, enjoy the read.

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