Abstract
Advances in light emitting diode (LED) technology have been remarkable in the last decade, opening up a realm of new applications. Carmanah Technologies Inc., based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada has taken advantage of LED performance improvements to produce the first fully enclosed, solar-powered LED navigation lights. These lights are more rugged and require less maintenance than conventional marine navigation lights and they are becoming the standard technology used by coast guards, navies and other marine authorities around the world, including the Port of Hong Kong, the Indian port of Kandla, Ha Long Bay and Hai Phong Harbour of Northern Vietnam as well as the US and Canadian Coast Guards. In addition, Carmanah has expanded its core technology for land-based lighting applications that require durable, self-powered lights; the company is optimistic that these new products may become important in port safety and security on shore.