A Study of the Placement of Masthead Lights on Vessels Less Than 50 Meters
1990
Mandler, Marc B. | Engel, Raymond C.
A study was conducted to determine whether or not navigation safety is affected when the masthead light is placed aft of amidships and aft of the sidelights light on power driven vessels less than 50 meters in length that have a single masthead light. Computer simulation was used to display oncoming vessels to observers. Vessels were represented only by their navigation lights, which were not always placed in compliance with current regulations. Observers were not informed of the actual navigation light placements, which is akin to the situation on the open water. Two different situations were simulated. In one situation, observers had to judge aspect after a brief look at an oncoming vessel, simular to the situation when an oncoming vessel is first noticed. In the other situation, observers were given a long period of time to watch an oncoming vessel. These observers were asked to judge the vessel's course. In both situations there was no statistically significant difference between the responses given when vessels complied with current regulations and responses given when the masthead was free to vary forward and aft of the sidelights. Keywords: Navigational, lights, Computerized stimulation, Naval vessels,merchant vessels, surface navigation.
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