Strobe lights- a mariners request.

[Robin]

The implication however is that the strobe light will be on all the time, otherwise how could he use it to warn vessels that he has so far not even noticed!

This is the 'keep well away from me I'm a paranoid' approach isn't it? We have also heard the equivalent in daylight in the lanes in the Channel, All Ships messages on Ch16 that they are crossing at 5kts, please give a wide berth...

 

[maxi77]

And that is very much my point, you cannot safely offload the responsibility for your own safety onto every one else.

 

[Robin2]

The implication of your (and others' posts) is that I should need no lights at all if I was keeping a sufficient look out.

I had hoped that people would infer from my post that it would make it easier for me to keep an effective lookout if other boats also had strobes.

There is no doubt in my mind that it is easier to detect a strobe light than a fixed light - both because it is flashing and because the light intensity is so much higher.

No matter how meticulously you maintain a lookout you will inevitably see a strobe light before you see a normal fixed nav light.

No matter how much training and experience one has, it is possible, indeed probable, that one will not perform at 100% all of the time. In fact I believe that the assumption that it is possible to perform at 100% can itself be a significant cause of accidents. Accident prevention requires a combination of approaches such that the failure of any one, or two does not lead to catastrophe.

It is my strong belief that the general use of strobes would add a useful extra layer of safety - especially for the assistance of the average man or woman. Men more especially, perhaps, because they are more likely to be colour blind.

 

[Robin]

It will be like a Movie Premiere out there with all the flashing lights.


Fortunately there are those in charge of ColRegs internationally with other ideas, so we will only be confused by the few taking unilateral action.

It could go in the lights pics page in almanacs, maybe alongside tricolour over steam over bow lights red/white/red or green/white/green, under the general heading of "Vessel not under intelligent command" /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif