Port Entry Light Helps Ensure Vessel, Cargo and Crew Safety at Large South American Port (English / Latin Spanish)

Sealite Case Studies

Port Entry Light Helps Ensure Vessel, Cargo and Crew Safety at Large South American Port (English / Latin Spanish)

Port Entry Light Helps Ensure Vessel, Cargo and Crew Safety at Large South American Port (English / Latin Spanish)

By:Sealite | May 03, 2019
Application: Port Entry Light Helps Ensure Vessel, Cargo and Crew Safety at Large South American Port
Product: Sealite LED Sectored Port Entry Light
Location: Puerto Mamonal, Cartagena Bay, Colombia
Date: September 2018

Case Study – Latin Spanish

Background

Colombia’s Puerto Mamonal is a public use/privately owned multipurpose port, committed to a safe, competitive and environmentally sustainable operation. It is located within the large, South American port of Cartagena in the Caribbean Sea. Cartagena Port is one of the world’s top 100 busiest ports due to the high volume of marine traffic calling on its 53 inland ports, including Puerto Mamonal.

Puerto Mamonal experienced significant growth in recent years in its bulk and containerized cargo activities. Further development of Puerto Mamonal was required to help ease the strains of increased imports, exports and in the Cartagena port area.

 

 

The Challenge

The Bay of Cartagena has three entrance channels yet only two could accommodate marine traffic.

The primary channel is very congested. The second channel is too shallow to accommodate marine traffic.

The third channel, Varadero, is deep enough to accommodate large vessels but has several navigation challenges for the 80,000 ton displacement/500’ LOA vessels expected to call at Port Mamonal. Shifting sandbars made grounding a constant threat, and protected, pristine coral reefs surround Varadero Channel. Precise navigation aid was required to help ensure safe and timely delivery of vessels, cargo and crew.

Delays in the delivery of goods and services and the risk of vessel grounding is a real threat to the local economy that can result in environmental impact, subsequent loss of marine life and potential downturn in tourism visitors to the region. Puerto Mamonal wished to avert these maritime concerns by adding a much need Port Entry Lighting system to enhance the safety of vessel traffic.

A requirement for the Port Entry Light was that it had to be solar powered to minimize utility expenses and remain operable in case of power shortages or outages.

The Solution

The port owners selected Sealite’s solar powered Port Entry Light (PEL) to aid mariners on approach into Puerto Mamonal.

The compact and lightweight design of Sealite’s high intensity Port Entry Light provides over 120,000cd to offer a brilliant 3NM daytime range into Puerto Mamonal. The PELs brilliance easily stands out against confusing background lighting in the large port. Power consumption is a mere 30 watts, offering an economical navigation solution and ideal solar powered aid to navigation.

Beyond minimal utility costs, Sealite’s Port Entry Light offers a measured, one minute of arc changeover between green/white/red color sectors; this provides unparalleled accuracy on vessel approach into port, where highly precise navigation assistance was critical to manoeuvre through the tight channel.

Sealite’s Port Entry Lights are easily programmed via USB on a personal computer. They are available in both 5 and 10 degree sectored beam width models, and can be tailored to a specific installation site; 32 light intensity steps and 256 flash characters provide easy identification for ship captains and harbor pilots.

The Port Entry Lights from Sealite are Type 1 or Type 3 AIS ready for remote monitoring of operating status by port maintenance personnel. GPS interface enables synchronization with multiple PEL units and other AtoNs for optimal port entrance safety. GSM monitoring provides remote control of the light through a compatible cell phone or Sealite’s web portal.

The Result:

The Sealite PEL 10 has helped the owners of Puerto Mamonal increase the number of large visiting vessels, expand trade into the area and provide safer operations for vessel operators, owners, pilots and crew pilots within the larger port of Cartagena.

“The Sealite Solar Port Entry Light, solar panels and batteries were easily assembled and configured on site. Pilots in the area state the PEL is of great help to navigation because it allows the vessels to transit the narrow channel in a safe manner.”

Zully Margarita Arroyo Castro

Asistente de Gerencia

Ingeneria Naval & Senalizacion Maritima S.A.S.

Barranquilla – Colombia

What Our Client's Say

On behalf of Karachi Port I am pleased to acknowledge your good service and provision of the new SL-75 solar marine lanterns installed by your firm in the harbour channel at Karachi Port. The new lanterns are very feasible and useful and equipped with the latest navigational technology.

-Captain Muhammad Altaf

[Re: Sealite SL-LED Lightsource at LaCorbiere Lighthouse], We were impressed with Sealite’s solution which provided a modern, reliable and efficient light source whilst remaining sympathetic to the lighthouse’s heritage and significance as a local landmark, but most importantly to improve upon reliability and to continue its vital role in aiding the safety of navigation in Jersey’s waters, as it has done for nearly 130 years.

-Aaron Gavey

[Re: Sealite Wins Duke’s Choice Award for Java Technology & the Environment – Sealite GSM monitoring & control system]. The team at Motorola were extremely impressed with Sealite’s innovative integration of the G24-Java wireless module in their GSM Monitoring & Alarm System.

-Golan Haver

As one of your new distributors (Belize and Honduras, Waller Marine Belize LTD), I would like to express my congratulations to you and your people in providing reliable, dependable and inexpensive products. Formerly we were distributors for a Canadian made product but these were found to be too expensive for the market and also offered only difficult and complicated programming. Our first order of lights from you (SL15’s) took only four days to arrive from Aussie Land, when I opened the box they were still flashing. I tested a SL60 (white) for four days (steady on) before it required a recharge…remarkable. I will be placing another order shortly. Keep up the good work.

-Capt Andy Suddes

[Re: Installation of WindTalker for kite-surfing club], The WindTalker™ is a big success here in Cyprus, thanks to your after sales support the unit is now functioning perfectly.

-Christophe Meletiou

We choose to sell Sealite … this is a long story, well we treat Sealite as our own and the relationship we have developed with Jeff and Chris and their attitude and commitment towards growing Sealite to this stage is remarkable. We feel at home when talking to them and the staff of Sealite and this in turn gives us more security and strength in selling products in India.

-Aliasgar E Patrawala

[Re: Sealite Solar-Powered LED Area Lighting system], We chose the Sealite system for the Jacobs Well Queuing Pontoon due to our previous experience with Sealite’s product, its durability and construction.

-Peter Taylor

I just wanted to say thank you for the light and bracket Sealite supplied to Birkenhead Marina. As the other lights (old ones) need new batteries I will be replacing them with new lights from Sealite and the same brackets that you supplied with the light we received last week … Your product is excellent and the system of setting the light is good also. Thanks again for all your trouble.

-Philip McGowen