NYK Develops and Installs High Illumination Searchlights for its Anti-terrorism, Anti-pirate Measures
March 29, 2005
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has introduced high illumination searchlights for commercial vessels in order to better protect its ships and vessels from pirates and acts of terrorism. (The utility model application for these searchlights is currently in preparation.
Searchlights will be installed on all of the Company's 11 liquid natural gas (LNG) carriers, 35 crude oil tankers, and other relevant ships. (The first light was loaded on the 102,390-ton Banshu-maru LNG carrier on March 26, 2005. The remainder of the lights will subsequently be set up on other ships and vessels in accordance with their port call schedules.)
Searchlights are being installed in line with the Company's goal of implementing defense measures through early capture and identification of pirates, stowaways, terrorists and any other suspicious parties who intend to harm crews, damage or illegally utilize vessels. In particular, illumination by a powerful light beam is expected to effectively notify pirates that the Company's vessels have tightened their guard, and to withhold from carrying out illegal actions.
Previously, commercial vessels utilized daylight signaling light and/or cargo lights (mercury lamps), which illuminate cargo, in place of searchlights. However, the performance of these lights are not sufficient due to their limited workability, intensity and limited illumination distance.
In recent years, the Company has strengthened and upgraded its anti-terrorism and anti-pirate countermeasures for its operating vessels. With the focus on the performance of high illumination searchlights such as those installed on patrol boats and police floodlight cars, the Company and a specialty manufacturer have jointly developed highly efficient and durable searchlights for commercial vessels (brand name: Jacklight), which can be easily installed.
The searchlights work effectively to illuminate and clearly identify suspicious unlit boats at a distance of 500 meters or less. In comparison with conventional cargo lights, which illuminate vessels to a limited extent, the newly developed searchlights have an innovative feature for linearly irradiating objects in the distance.
The Company strives to implement a variety of anti-terrorism and anti-pirate strategies for each individual vessel and ship based on the Ship Security Plan. Moreover, the Company aims to effectively utilize the searchlights to further strengthen security systems.
Outline of High Illumination Searchlights
| Type: | Metal halide lamp |
| Rating: | Continuance |
| Surrounding temperature in use: | |
-10 to +40 |
|
| Ballast: | Built-in |
| Brightness: | More than 1,300,000 cd Enables visual identification of ships without lights at a distance of 500 meters or less (tested on the sea) |
| Lighting angle: | Approximately 9 degrees |
| Weight: | Approximately 11kg |
| Size: | Width: 340mm, depth: 245mm, height: 460mm |