Tideland Signal - Offshore Navigation Aids

Tideland Signal manufactures offshore marking systems comprising marine lanterns (lights), fog signals and radar beacons (racon) for use in hazardous areas that meet the European ATEX Directive 94/9/EC and comply with IALA recommendations, the UK Standard Marking Schedule, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and other requirements.

Marine lanterns and fog signals

Tideland Signal marine lanterns and fog signals are autonomous units. Each lantern or fog signal has its own U-coder making it independent of a central control panel. This independence makes Tideland Signal marine lanterns and fog signals very reliable in service. A central monitoring panel provides the system status. It can be supplied in safe area or hazardous area versions.

Having a U-coder in every lantern or fog signal provides flexibility in power supply design. A central battery can be provided or when limited space is available a decentralised or distributed system can be supplied with ATEX certified batteries and chargers being co-located with the lantern or fog signal.

Light station

The light station comprises the main AC powered 15nm light and the secondary or standby DC powered 10nm light. The integral U-coders mean they operate as a main and secondary pair independent from instructions from a central panel. They are mounted on a stainless steel or galvanised steel pedestal with an Exe junction box to accept field cables.

Main light

The ML-300 FLMC-4 features a high efficiency 400W dual filament lamp with TL1000 lampholder. On failure of the first filament an alarm is generated at the control panel and the secondary light is activated. The lamp can be repositioned so that the second filament is in position or the lamp can be replaced.

Secondary light

The ML300 secondary light is fitted with a DuoFlash Ex twin filament flasher and 10.3V 40W twin filament lamp giving a range of 10 miles. On board power control allows input voltages of up to 16VDC to be used, minimising losses in supply cables. The DuoFlash Ex automatically switches to the second filament, of equal intensity, on failure of the first. The Morse U flash character is generated by the Duoflash Ex twin filament flasher which also monitors the performance of the lantern. A six-place lamp changer version is also available.

Fog station

The AB68 fog signal consists of a vertical array of six TDA24450 driver units sounding in unison to provide a range of 2 nautical miles. To ensure maximum reliability two ECU 800s are used to generate the Morse U character, one duty and one standby. A current monitor will automatically change over from the duty to the standby ECU and report an alarm to the central panel. Any two driver units are sufficient to meet the ½ mile secondary range requirement.

Subsidiary light

The ML155 red 3nm subsidiary light also features the DuoFlash Ex twin filament flasher as fitted to the secondary light thereby minimising spare parts holding. A range of three miles is achieved by using a 10.3V 7.3W twin filament lamp.

Monitor and alarm panel

Current monitors in the central panel provide system status via LED indicators and outputs via volt free contacts are available for connection to SCADA systems. The panel also provides photocell and fog signal overrides allowing the lanterns to be turned on during daylight and the fog signal to be silenced.

Radar beacon (racon)

Available options include: fog detector and racon (radar beacon). The fog detector provides automatic control over the fog signal and can be supplied in safe area and hazardous area version. The racon can be provided to aid identification of the structure to vessels fitted with marine radar, providing an identifying coded trace on the interrogating radar's display.