LED Lighting Risks of Maritime Radio Interference

Known for their reduced energy consumption, lower operating temperatures and longer life expectancies, LED lighting can be found on board vessels ranging from cargo ships to luxury yachts to smaller recreational watercraft. But those LED lamps may also cause electromagnetic interference, or EMI, which can result in poor reception on VHF frequencies, a U.S. Coast Guard alert warns.

海岸警卫队收到了机组人员，船东，检查员和其他与接待不佳有关的频率，数字选择性呼叫（DSC）和自动识别系统（AIS）的报道。在一个案件中，海岸警卫队报告说，海事救援无法到达参与交通分离事件的船舶。

旅行者风险控制专业人员詹姆斯·尚利（James Shanley）说：“如果船只处于困境，射频干扰可能是一种安全危害，因为它会使通信工作变得复杂。”他补充说，所有设备都会创建某种形式的EMI。“只有当该干扰与海洋VHF使用的频率范围相同时，这才成为一个问题。一切都需要很好地工作。”

While larger vessels are increasingly using radar, advanced GPS and other sophisticated technologies that are less likely to be affected by LED light radio interference, there is still the potential that it could create a safety threat at sea. There is also the risk that smaller boats, such asluxury yachts and other personal watercraft, affected by radio interference could pose a hazard to other vessels if they are having difficulty communicating.

Testing for the Presence of LED Radio Light Interference with VHF Frequencies

According to the Coast Guard, maritime radio users might not be immediately aware of strong LED light interference. “Testing for potential radio interference can help protect mariners by being aware of an issue before a problem arises,” Shanley said. Mariners can then take steps to help minimize the risk of radio frequency interference, such as switching out the interfering LEDs for other compliant lighting.

The Coast Guard recommends five steps to help test for the presence of LED interference:

1. 关闭LED灯。
2. Tune the VHF radio to a quiet channel.
3. Adjust the VHF radio’s squelch control until the radio outputs audio noise.
4. Readjust the VHF radio’s squelch control until the audio noise is quiet, only slightly above the noise threshold.
5. Turn on the LED lights. If the radio now outputs audio noise, then the LED lights have raised the noise floor. If the radio does not output audio noise, then the LED lights have not raised the noise audio floor.

The noise floor is generally the amount of interfering signals or static received beyond the specific signal or channel being monitored. A raised noise floor generally indicates that both shipboard VHF marine radio and AIS reception are being degraded by LED lighting, according to the Coast Guard. In order to determine the full impact of LED light radio interference, the Coast Guard requests those experiencing this problem to report their experiences using the contact form on theCoast Guard Navigation Centerwebsite.

Minimizing Radio Frequency Interference

LED lamps, such as those found in navigation lights, searchlights, floodlights, and interior and exterior lights can lead to radio frequency interference. The Coast Guard reported that LED lighting installed near VHF antennas has also shown to compound reception problems.

There are ways to minimize radio frequency interference, such as using only interior and exterior LED lights that are designed to eliminate EMI and that are certified to international maritime standards. Such LED lights avoid the frequency range between 156 MHz and 165 MHz, which is the frequency used by marine VHF and AIS systems.

在美国出售的所有设备都必须遵守联邦通信委员会（FCC）CFR 47.不合格的灯光可能会进入当地码头的货架上。Shanley说：“在销售点控制LED灯很重要，因为一旦登上了不合规的光，可能很难追踪。”在LED灯上查找表明在FCC测试下为EMI验证产品的邮票。

保护船舶免受LED照明风险

Mariners can help protect against the risks of radio interference by inspecting all LED lamps to ensure that they are compliant with international maritime standards, by testing LED lights for signs of radio interference and by changing lights that cause interference.

旅行ers can help ocean marine service suppliers, marine transportation companies and ocean cargo companies learn more about protecting their businesses from these and othermaritime safety concerns.

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