What should be done if buoy lighting fails and cannot be fixed immediately?

If buoy lighting fails and cannot be fixed immediately, implementing a temporary lighting solution is a critical step to ensure the safety of navigating vessels. The main purpose of buoy lighting is to provide visual navigation guidance to mariners, particularly at night or during low visibility conditions.

When buoy lighting is not functioning, it creates a hazard for vessels that rely on those signals for safe passage. A temporary lighting solution, such as placing a portable light on the buoy or marking the area with additional navigational aids, helps mitigate the risk of collisions and navigational errors.

This approach demonstrates a proactive commitment to maintaining maritime safety while awaiting permanent repairs. Such measures are consistent with marine safety protocols, where immediate action is preferred to protect lives and property on the water.

In contrast, simply notifying vessel traffic or waiting for scheduled maintenance may not adequately address the immediate danger posed by the malfunctioning buoy. While alerting adjacent vessels is vital, it does not solve the problem of insufficient visibility at that navigation point. Therefore, implementing temporary lighting ensures that vessels can still receive guidance and navigate the area safely.