Recently, BASRA grand Bahamas held night time training exercises, utilizing both rescue boats and a 10 volunteer crew with 3 boat captains. In an attempt to expand our ability to search for lost boats at night, Basra purchased an advanced night vision system, two high powered search lights as well as a green 12 mile laser illuminator.
The training session was centered around applications of the new night vision systems. Night vision amplifies any small amount of light to show a boat in total darkness, the night vision was able to locate an unlit boat at a distance of over 5 miles and up to 7 miles with even a small light on the lost boat. As well the new high powered 10 million power search light was tried by all on board to locate a lost boat in excess of 7 miles away. A new method of triangulating lost boats was also covered, it uses the direction of the lights of Freeport and the direction of the wind or direction to other boats the lost boat can see and report.
The triangulation system narrows down the area for us to search in, dramatically reducing our time to find you. The training session was initiated after Basra underwent a tough night search for 8 Bahamians on board a boat from Bimini, lost at sea in the dark of night. The lost boat had nether a light, flares or radio on board, Basra spent 5 hours searching for the boat.
To improve your rescue chances always carry a working light, a working radio and a flare gun, even if you only use your boat during the day, we all know how easy it is for you to loose a engine or run out of gas. The day becomes night, real quick. A stranded boat with no lights stands a chance to be run over by other boats such as tankers and cruise ships. A working marine radio allows you to be in contact with BASRA resulting in a quicker search with a successful result.
Support BASRA with a donation to our rescue fund, it may be your boat and life we save.
The training session was centered around applications of the new night vision systems. Night vision amplifies any small amount of light to show a boat in total darkness, the night vision was able to locate an unlit boat at a distance of over 5 miles and up to 7 miles with even a small light on the lost boat. As well the new high powered 10 million power search light was tried by all on board to locate a lost boat in excess of 7 miles away. A new method of triangulating lost boats was also covered, it uses the direction of the lights of Freeport and the direction of the wind or direction to other boats the lost boat can see and report.
The triangulation system narrows down the area for us to search in, dramatically reducing our time to find you. The training session was initiated after Basra underwent a tough night search for 8 Bahamians on board a boat from Bimini, lost at sea in the dark of night. The lost boat had nether a light, flares or radio on board, Basra spent 5 hours searching for the boat.
To improve your rescue chances always carry a working light, a working radio and a flare gun, even if you only use your boat during the day, we all know how easy it is for you to loose a engine or run out of gas. The day becomes night, real quick. A stranded boat with no lights stands a chance to be run over by other boats such as tankers and cruise ships. A working marine radio allows you to be in contact with BASRA resulting in a quicker search with a successful result.
Support BASRA with a donation to our rescue fund, it may be your boat and life we save.
