Representing a significant part of the Port of Geelong’s $10m navigation aid upgrade project, the first of almost 100 new solar LED navigation lights will be installed on new pylons next month.

The systems selected include SL125-GPS synchronized LED lanterns, GSM monitoring and SL96 lead lighting systems. All LED lanterns have been supplied as complete lantern assemblies, and include power supplies and ancillary equipment.

In October 2004 The Port of Geelong became one of the first customers to trial the Sealite SL125-GPS lantern.

The Port of Geelong has adopted the concept of GPS synchronisation of all SL125 lanterns. Independent units set to the same flash pattern use an internal algorithm with time data received from satellites, to enable the lanterns to flash on and off in synchronisation.

This provides an enormous, highly effective visual mark for safe vessel navigation by mariners, and clearly distinguishes the channel against background lighting from the City of Geelong and Melbourne.

In addition to GPS-synch, lanterns at key locations incorporate Sealite’s GSM monitoring feature, enabling remote monitoring of equipment. Maintenance officers can rely on this system to gain important operational information about each AtoN, including diagnostics such as battery voltage and navaid position. Communication is achieved directly from the lantern to designated cell phones via mobile SMS communication.

The largest regional port in Victoria, the Port of Geelong, located on the south-eastern coast of mainland Australia, is a major hub for cargo movement within the state, including raw materials such as crude oil and petroleum, steel, timber, and fertilisers.

The port comprises of a number of commercial wharves and piers, therefore requiring a sophisticated aids to navigation system to ensure the safe and efficient movement of vessels in and around the bay. Commercial cruise liners such as the 963ft Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), and 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess also rely on clear navigation through the channels of the Port of Geelong when docking at Cunningham Pier or anchoring off-shore.

Many of the current lights installed along the port’s shipping channels have incandescent light sources and require excessive manual monitoring and maintenance programs. Wanting to reduce ongoing maintenance costs, and to improve the visibility of channel markers, the Port of Geelong opted for Sealite GPS-synchronised LED lanterns.