Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2009
This paper by the Principal Scientific Officer of Trinity House was presented at an Institute meeting in London on 28 April 1976 with Mrs. Mary Pera in the Chair.
Mr. Reynolds describes the use of lights to convey positional and other information by the assignment of characteristics of rhythm and colour and discusses the problems of visual discrimination, the choice of light intensities and the effect of atmospheric conditions on the ranges of lights. He also describes the new buoyage system and other moves towards international agreement. A paper on the IALA system by the Hydro-grapher of the Navy appears at p. 94.
Lighting is used in various ways in maritime applications. For operations at night in vessels, in harbours or on drilling platforms general lighting is necessary; such lights may also be of value in indicating a hazard or suggesting a route to be followed but are not expressly intended for that purpose. Fixed lights in vessels are arranged in a spatial pattern and employ colour to give indications of the presence and aspect of the vessel to other vessels. Indirect lighting is also sometimes used, as in the floodlighting of lighthouse towers to reduce bird deaths by collision.