Sealite White Papers

An Explanation of the IALA Maritime Buoyage System

The IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation & Lighthouse Authorities) Maritime Buoyage System is an internally recognised system used to avoid confusion and help create safe navigation for mariners in different regions around the world.

Within the IALA Maritime Buoyage System there are 5 different types of marks which may be used in combination – lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe water and special marks. The mariner can easily distinguish between each mark by readily identifiable characteristics including colour, shape and lantern flash pattern.

For a copy of the IALA Maritime Buoyage System document contact Sealite today (info@sealite.com), or visit the IALA-AISM website for full details - www.iala-aism.org.

A Complete List of IALA Recommended Flash Codes Available with Sealite Lanterns

The Sealite lanterns may be set to any of 256 IALA recommended flash settings which are user-adjustable onsite without the need for external devices.

Custom Flash Codes Available

Sealite can program your lantern to flash in any sequence to suit local applications. Please contact Sealite today for details - info@sealite.com

IP Ratings: a Detailed Explanation

An IP Rating or IP Code is an international numerical standard used to classify the degree of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects and water in electrical enclosures. This standard provides users with a more detailed explanation for products other than the vague term ‘waterproof’.

IP68 is the highest waterproof rating required in the marine industry.

The Benefits of Solar Power

Solar energy is the light that comes from the sun and is the earth’s most abundant energy source. Every day the sun radiates extraordinary amounts of energy into space and, due to the development of technology such as the solar cell, we are able to collect this energy and convert it into usable electricity.

Due to improvements in design technology today’s solar panels have become increasingly efficient, and provide the perfect solution for remote power requirements, and for compact solar/battery powered products such as marine lanterns.

In addition, solar power is cost effective, requires no expensive underground cabling, convenient and environmently friendly. 

LED Technology: the Perfect Lighting Solution

In recent years as LED technology has become more advanced, the light output (intensity) and efficiency have continued to increase significantly making LED lighting products a viable alternative to the incandescent bulb and other convential lighting methods.

Early LEDs only emitted low-intensity red light, however, modern LEDs have been developed to emit light across the visible, ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths, with a high level of brightness.

LEDs are more energy efficient and will outlast traditional bulbs by many tens of thousands of hours.

Benefits of Polyethylene Buoys

Polyethylene is one of the most common plastics used today and due to its light weight, strength and versatility, is used in a range of commercial and household products worldwide. 

One such polyethylene, Hexene co-polymer based Linear Low Density Polyethylene resin (LLDPE), is specifically designed for rotational moulding applications, such as marine navigation buoys.

LLDPE has a higher tactile strength, and exhibits greater impact and puncture resistance compared to some other plastics. It is perfect for polyethylene buoy products because of its high Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance (ESCR), toughness, flexibility and minimal impact on the environment.