Ships Dimmed Navigation Lights

[MarkJ]

Ships going through the Gulf of Aden used dimmed navigation lights as an anti piracy measure.
Many dim them anywhere in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
However, we are still encountering dimmed lights coming south out of the Black Sea. Not many, but just enough to need to keep on the toes. perhaps there will be miscreants in Western Europe and Asia who haven't put the bright ones back up... hopefully not further afield.

The first confirmed one we saw was off Thailand. But I think there were some in the Singapore Straits.

As you know most ships can be seen at night when hull down and just the top mast over the horizon and when they get closer looking like a Christmas tree. Dimmed light can really only be seen for a scant few miles - maybe perhaps just legal. The effect is darkness.. then all of a sudden a ship is right there on your doorstep.
The other difficulty is range perception. Dim lights look further away. So a dim ship passing a normally lit ship will look miles away, when perhaps its quite close.

The first time you see a dim ship you will question yourself.. yes, you are crazy, but not more crazy: the ship really has low lights!

Beware!


Mark

[Wotname]

Better start saving up for that radar
Maybe get Nic one for birthday/christmas etc

[maxingout]

Dim lights on ships? Very suspicious.

You made a long passage from Thailand to Egypt with only one stop. Probably no fresh fruit in months. Is it possible that you have SCURVY making your vision dim?

[Jim Cate]

Probably don't have their AIS transponders on either!!!

It is a good case for having even a small, low powered radar (Furuno 1600 series, etc)

Cheers,

Jim

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by maxingout

no fresh fruit in months. Is it possible that you have SCURVY making your vision dim?

Fruit????????? Carrots, you mean! Orange things. (Purple in Denmark). Carrots. And your'e an othomoligist (whatever) and I have to teach you about carrots!!!
But just the same, we are lovin the fruit and vegs here! Egypt was good too. Asia not so good, Pacific was often hopeless!

Re: Radar. yachts and small pleasure boats (boats: Pleasure.. thats a laugh!) are the only vessels without radar! Anyway, we'll buy an AIS first. Got a cheap one going? Transponder only please.

[idpnd]

The westmarine is the cheapest unit I'm aware of..