LIGHTING THE OCEAN

Evening Star, Issue 19412, 22 November 1926, Page 12

LIGHTING THE OCEAN

HOVEL PLAN SUGGESTED.

A novel suggestion ■ was recently made that the main ocean routes should be equipped with under-water searchlights. These lights, laid in the form ot a long string, would shine up through the water and provide an unfailing guide to liners and merchant ships at night. it was suggested further that on busy routes where the sea traffic is considerable-all risk of collision could be obviated by a “rule of the road” to the effect that ships going one way should keep to the one side of the lights and those coming in the opposite direction to the other side. Whereas this scheme is scarcely necessary on the straight-forward routes it would undoubtedly be valuable in. places where rocks and sandbanks abound. Often in these places steering the ship is a very difficult matter —calling not only ior skill but also for an expert knowledge of the locality. With this scheme in operation the matter would resolve itself into solely a matter of keeping to the lights. Eog—the sailors' most formidable enemy—could, it is contended,, be effectively overcome by this method, and it is claimed that had the lights been in operation many wrecks, with their resulting loss of life, could have been obviated. Now that air liners are developing almost daily and the service is increasing week by week, this scheme, it is suggested, would be of assistance. At night/ the lights would act as an unfailing guide to the pilots.