The lights in harbours and sports marinas

Why the lights in ports are important

The lights installed in marinas facilitate trade, industry and sporting activities. Not only are visitors constantly coming and going, there can also be workers, vehicles, boats, shipping containers and machinery. They are often used as multi-functional centres for accommodating combined transportation solutions, which means they can be used to handle, manufacture and distribute all types of goods.

In fact, ports are very complex places with a combination of equipment, infrastructures, super-structures, communication lines and specialist teams of workers. This is what makes the lighting such an essential pillar of safety, comfort and aesthetics.

Regulations and requirements

There are many different applicable regulations. Some of the most important ones in Spain include:

• Energy Efficiency Regulations for Outdoor Lighting;
• Low Voltage Electrical Installation Electrotechnical Regulations;
• Royal Decree 1890/2008 of 14 November approving the Energy Efficiency Regulations for Outdoor Lighting and the complementary technical instructions;
• Standard UNE EN 12464-2 on lighting in outdoor work places.

It is important to highlight the fact that port lighting projects are very complex since they involve indoor and outdoor lighting that often has a very specific purpose. This includes the lights for outdoor work areas. Safety and visual comfort are a necessity in docking areas but they are also key in each and every corner of the facilities under port authority control.

Important considerations for project design

Irrespective of whether a port lighting project is for a harbour or sports marina, it is a huge undertaking and many factors have to be accounted for. One of the main ones is energy efficiency. LED technology has great features, including resistance and decreased consumption, that can help make savings of around 65 % in comparison with conventional systems.

Safety and convenience in the workplace

One of the main reasons for needing good lighting in harbours and sports marinas is to make it easy to handle goods and carry out tasks. Good lighting includes a homogeneous, uniform luminous flux with no glare.

It is also important to avoid sharp contrasts in transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces. The average luminance should make it easy to see well at any time of day.

Depending on if they are working on a harbour, sports marina or multi-functional port, project managers need to come up with the most suitable solution to make working and moving around each area easy and to ensure that the lights complement the time of day.

Efficiency and savings

Bringing consumption down and boosting energy efficiency are absolute musts in port lighting projects. There is a lot of activity in ports and, consequently, energy consumption is high.

When it comes to choosing luminaires, making savings and optimising expenditures are the basic pillars on which to base those choices. LED technology has all the best characteristics for delivering the desired results.

Efficiency must go hand-in-hand with protection to ensure devices are suitably resistant and watertight. An IP65/66/67, for example, stops water and humidity ingress. This helps to save energy and means the device lasts longer under demanding weather conditions.

Savings are one of the main aims of most lighting refurbishment projects in ports. An energy efficiency audit can alert managers to the need to make changes. Integral or partial refurbishment projects can improve service levels, energy efficiency, control and integration.

Holistic approaches factor in illumination as an essential part of construction projects. They also address other basic considerations such as installing luminaires that have been treated to withstand the onslaught of the elements in coastal areas.

For example, lighting towers must be able to withstand unrelenting changes in temperature, water, humidity and wind. Health and safety, luminous calculations and maintenance programmes, among others, also need to be considered.

The different areas of ports that require lights

Irrespective of if a port is used principally for sailing, sports activities, industry or logistics, there are many different areas in ports that require lights. These are just some of them:

• piers, jetties and breakwaters
• walkways and pedestrianised spaces
• lock control and water level areas
• areas for handling, loading and unloading goods
• passenger areas
• pavements and access routes
• hose, tube and rope connection points
• offices.

Adapted SECOM lighting

At SECOM, we have devices with all the necessary characteristics for any harbour or sports marina lighting project.

• Ecodut K1 and K2. An outdoor illumination system for roads that does not cause light pollution.
• MAGEC Eonlight / Eralight Street System. Resistance is a key characteristic of these lights. They are particularly suitable for areas such as coastal towns and ports.
• Protek Q1. A very efficient and versatile industrial flood light with LED technology. It is ideal for marine ports and sports marinas.

There are many factors to account for in port lighting projects, including purchasing a wide range of luminaires. At SECOM, we have solutions that can adapt to any project and guarantee optimum energy efficiency and durability with the option of customisation. The technology comes with optional automation and control solutions that can help make savings on electricity bills.