Blue navigation light

[WalshamUK]

Came into Holyhead marina in the dark last night, and a light seeming to help us find the marina entrance was blue. Bright blue.
Any ideas what it means? Is it IALA compliant? I'm confused,

 

[Skylark]

I'm a marina berth holder and I'm not familiar with a blue light. Where was it? There are two fixed red vertical lights to mark the northern end of the pontoons / jetty.

 

[prv]

Only blue light I can think of off the top of my head is the "new uncharted wreck" marker, but I have heard of a harbour somewhere that uses one even though it's not in IALA. Don't think it was Holyhead though.

Pete

 

[[70521]]

There are a few in Plymouth Sound. I'd also be interested to learn about why blue is used.

 

[WalshamUK]

The 2 vertical red lights were not working (we saw where they are when daylight appeared). As we approached where the red lights should have been the blue light was dead ahead, perhaps ashore, perhaps on a boat (couldn't tell in the dark). After we made the 180 degree turn around the N end of the jetty to enter the marina the blue light was then astern of us.

 

[NealB]

There are a few in Plymouth Sound. I'd also be interested to learn about why blue is used.

I think that about 8% of men have some degree of red /green colour blindness. Defects with blue / yellow are very much less common.

You could make a very sensible case, therefore, for changing from red/ green to blue / yellow.

 

[sarabande]

this may help.

http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/mariner_info/aids_to_navigation/emergency-wreck-marking-buoy.html

 

[Giblets]

this may help.

http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/mariner_info/aids_to_navigation/emergency-wreck-marking-buoy.html

Drat, beaten to it. I was going to say that I noticed the emergency wreck buoys on THV Patricia had blue lights fitted when I went on a trip on her.

 

[prv]

Drat, beaten to it.

Beaten to it in post number 3, surely?

Pete

 

[[70521]]

I think that about 8% of men have some degree of red /green colour blindness. Defects with blue / yellow are very much less common.

You could make a very sensible case, therefore, for changing from red/ green to blue / yellow.

If you zoom in to the Bridge at Drakes Island you will see a FL(2) BU 5s and there is another at Jennycliff Bay.

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbo...33F1861/plymouth-sound-and-marinas-2012-chart

 

[stuarta]

I suspect the blue lights in plymouth are positioned (on already existing beacons) to assist the Admiralty pilots in taking capital ships and submarines in and out of the Hamoaze. They are not traditional headmarks/sternmarks but give a reasonably good visual reference as they open around Drakes Island (Bridge Beacon on Inbound leg, Withyhedge on outbound). The pilots rely heavily on natural transits and other references and at night the Bridge area and Jennycliff are relatively lacking in visible marks, especially as your night vision is ruined by the bright lights of the Hoe (until you get onto the sectored leading lights). Withyhedge will also provide a useful reference coming out through Smeaton pass if you are on a ship where you can't see the West Hoe sternmark.

 

[John.edwards]

IIRC there is a blue lit buoy near Algeciras, or maybe near Gibraltar bay marina. security warning for the airstrip?

 

[RAI]

Last time I saw a blue navigation light, it was caused by an LED bulb fitted inside a green glassed lamp. The blue/white LED made the green glass emit blue. A filament bulb was needed to provide green.

 

[WalshamUK]

Thanks for that link. Interesting that says alternating blue/yellow light. The light we saw was definitely solid blue. Mind you that may have been done for cheapskate reasons.

 

[prv]

Ah ha!

Does this count as a Lakesailoring, or does the additional provision of a link negate that?

Pete

 

[Skylark]

Can't see a blue light anywhere!

Nothing on HH Harbour, Marina or SC website.

 

[Fascadale]

I seem to remember that the leading lights for Milford Dock were blue

 

[paulm299]

Leading lights for the ore carriers at Port Talbot are Blue . They look Like giant fly zappers from my house .

 

[PilotWolf]

I seem to remember that the leading lights for Milford Dock were blue

Beat me to it! I am 99% sure they are too but it was nearly a year ago when I was there.

W.

 

[wadget]

There are various places I have seen blue lights, generaly secotor or leading lights rather than bouys.

I think they are used to make them easier to pick out against other white shore lights in places where there is a lot of background light, not 100% sure that this is the actual reason but it seems to be the case in the ones I have seen.