April 2015 World Port Development 29

c o n t a i n e rt e r m i n a l l i g h t i n g

Since the introduction of LED lights (LightEmitting Diode) to the ports industry, toreplace traditional high-pressure sodiumlights (HPS), there has been an influx ofcompanies offering various LED lights.Sheila Moloney reports…

t World Port Development we are in favour of anything that reduces impacton the environment and are happy to

report that the majority of lighting companiesserving the port industry are offering a first-class product with obvious environmentalbenefits. Having written several articles onterminal lighting it is a simple fact that theold-fashioned HPS lights require frequentmaintenance for lamp and ballast replace-ments and that the energy costs are so muchhigher compared to the use of LED lights. Someeven claim that by switching to LED you canachieve a return on your investments within12 months. HPS lights need a ‘warm-up time’of around 20 minutes before its light outputreaches full intensity while LED lights provideyou with full light intensity as soon as theyare switched on. Perhaps this explains thereason why so many operators leave their HPS

lights on 24 hours a day - seven days a week!In addition, LED lights provide a white brightlight, compared to the ‘orange’ glow of HPSlights, which both manufacturers and operatorsagree will give a much safer environment to workin.All-in-all the main drive is energy savings andthere is an obvious move from manufacturersto provide their potential customers with theright lights.At PSA Antwerp in Belgium, theyare currently testing Phoenix LED lights whichare installed on one of their cranes.Althoughthis is still in a test phase, Christian Reinhold,Project Manager Crane Engineering at PSAAntwerp, explains that they are consideringboth LED and LEP lights.Although informationon both of these lights are available frommanufacturers it is still difficult to obtainindependent research.“The information ischanging quickly, so it’s difficult to make upone’s mind,” said Reinhold.

Just as LED technology has become the standardfor terminal equipment, LEP fixtures haveproven to be ideal for high mast yard lighting.In response to the demand of the industry itmight be no surprise that Phoenix Products

Company Inc, offering durable lighting solutionsfor container and bulk handling equipment,joined forces with Bright Light Systems to offerpremium Light Emitting Plasma (LEP) fixtures.To cater for the industry’s first and only globalsales agency exclusively serving container,intermodal and bulk terminals, Phoenix hasintroduced a new company - Phoenix TerminalSolutions.The two lighting companies sharesimilar ideals and objectives.“We are pleasedto be working with our new partners atPhoenix Terminal Solutions,” said Brad Lurie,President and CEO of Bright Light Systems.“Our experience and success with LEP high-mastlighting in port and bulk terminal applicationsis a perfect fit.Together we can offer customersenhanced lighting choices and the latest tech-nology. Both BLS and Phoenix Lighting havedemonstrated a track record of quality andinnovation. Our combined strength will addressmarket demands and be beneficial for all parties.”The new company represents a select numberof trusted brands that all share a common goal- offering modern technologies that deliversafety, as well as operational and environmentalbenefits to terminals. Phoenix Terminal Solutionshas teamed up with LASE - a leading supplier

Illuminating the benefits of port lighting

A

Phoenix Terminal Solutions

Photo courtesy of Aeon Lighting Technology Inc

World Port Development April 201530

c o n t a i n e r t e r m i n a l l i g h t i n g

for laser measurement systems.“We are gladlylooking forward to our new partnership withPhoenix Terminal Solutions. LASE strengthensits presence by this partnership in the Northand Central American regions. Phoenix standsfor quality as well as high-value products andservices, which also reflects the philosophy ofLASE,” said Lars Ambrosy, CEO of the Germany-based manufacturer. Phoenix Terminal Solutionsaims to build on the recent LASE bulk terminalsuccesses with heap volume measurementsystems and automated solutions for wagoncar tipplers.Terminals worldwide should expectto feel immediate benefits of this company.“Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) is veryhappy to learn that Phoenix is now presentin the yard lighting technology and has nowbecome a complete container terminal lightingsystem supplier. Phoenix is TIL’s preferred and

only LED supplier for our container handlingequipment and can now offer complete solutions,” said Marc Desmons, Manager ofEngineering Services for Terminal InvestmentLimited (TIL).

Bright Light Systems recently completed aBLP1000 LEP High Mast Luminaire replacementproject at the Port of Seattle.The Port is over100 years old and is the 10th largest port inthe United States. It creates nearly 200,000jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma area and contributesUSD17 billion to the local economy.Terminals90/91 serve commercial workboats and 180cruise ship departures each year for Carnival,Princess, and Royal Caribbean lines.The terminals are also home to the NorthernFishing Fleet.Work on the docks goes on24/7, and the existing 180 high-mast High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) luminaires had reachedtheir useful lifespan. HPS wasn’t delivering thelight coverage the Port needed to meet currentstandards and ensure optimum safety in a nighttime working environment.And there was aclear opportunity to save energy costs usinga new lighting technology.With existing polesat 65 feet high, the Port of Seattle retrofittedhigh energy use 1000W HPS with BrightLight Systems 540W BLP1000 Light EmittingPlasma (LEP) luminaires. LEP luminaires provideincreased colour recognition, are dimmableto 20%, and carry a lifetime rating of 50,000hours. Energy costs for Terminals 90/91 areprojected to be reduced by 50%. LEP luminairesare reliable, provide superior light distribution,and the crisp white light (5200K) enhancessecurity cameras’ image acuity and the abilityto recognise faces.According to Bright LightSystems the projected annual kWh saved comesto 508,518 kWh, reflecting in a projectedannual energy savings of USD40,681.00 (pay-back will be less than 4.8 years) and will savethe environment in reduced CO2 emissionsof 351 metric tonnes.

As a pioneer of industrial LED lighting,Taiwanesehigh-power LED lighting company Aeon LightingTechnology Inc (ALT) offers a full range ofindustrial lighting products from indoors tooutdoors.They are also the first LED lightingcompany to transfer the technological know-how of the server industry to LED lighting,featuring patented heat-sink design to createthe highest standard in the industry, say Aeon.Its powerful performance and robust durabilitymakes ALT ideal for extreme applications suchas marine lighting, port & terminal lighting,explosion proof lighting, etc.According to ALT,their Lodestar Series Floodlight is in fact oneof the brightest LED lights in the world, goingup to an astonishing lumen output of 50,000lm (485W). It is integrated with a patented

Aeon Lighting Technology Inc

LEP lights

Photo courtesy of Aeon Lighting Technology Inc

Photometric layout sample courtesy of AeonLighting Technology Inc

aerospace structural design and providesconsistent light intensity and high performanceeven in extreme climates.ALTLED Floodlightscan help the LED chip reach the highest efficiencydue to its patented heat dissipation technologyand high quality self-developed driver. Bypartnering with large LED manufacturers suchas CREE and Osram,ALTLED Floodlights cancontinuously enhance its lumen output.Asthe best lighting solution to apply in port andterminal environment,ALTLED Floodlightsare IP68 waterproof and anti-corrosion proof,and it also considers the wind resistance.Thereare aerodynamically engineered drilled holesto mitigate drag. Furthermore, the lamps arelight weight for better safety, and easy instal-lation.With high brightness, system stability,and total water-resistance, the floodlights arecreated to full-fill port and terminal’s userdemand.The company has had its major successesmainly in the Far East with LED installationson numerous container cranes in the port of

Taipei and port of Yang Ming (both in Taiwan).At Taipei Port they installed 68 units 145WALT LED floodlights on a container cranereplacing 34 pieces 1000W HPS lights resultingin a 70% energy saving.The company alsoinstalled high-mast installations in several Chineseports. Like any other LED manufacturer ithas spread its wings and has installed LEDlights on the container cranes at the SSALong Beach Terminal in California, USA.

LeeAnne Crane from US-based LED ExpertsLLC has provided us with a quick referencechecklist before you make a decision onyour LED lighting system.

ED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting technology has been the most innovativechange in lighting for over 25 years.

The technology continues to evolve at anastounding rate providing great opportunitiesto not only reduce energy and replacementcosts, but to improve the overall lighting foryour facility.The use of high power output LED’sare required to produce the appropriate lightinglevels and conditions for high wattage fixtures.Most terminals have “high mast” lighting whichare typically 80 to 100 feet high with 6 to 8light fixtures consuming over 1100 watts perfixture.The proper function of this lighting iscritical to the safety, security and operationof your facility.

So, is LED lighting a viable option for yourfacility? The answer is yes, but you better doyour homework first. In order to achieve asuccessful project, it is very important thatyou purchase the correct product for theapplication. I know what you are thinking,“Howdo I do that? I’m not a lighting expert!” Thatis the exact reason I am writing this article. Iwant to provide you a clear direction in makingthe decision to upgrade your lighting to LED.

1) Research the manufacturer’s experience and success in the LED market.At this point in the technology, the manufacturer should be able to provide you with references (at least 3-5 that you may contact directly).

2) Request a photometric layout using the manufacturer’s product.This is a computer generated lighting plan using automated lighting software that will show you the light readings of your facility after the application of LED.This service is usually provided for free from the manufacturer.

However, sometimes the factories manipulatethe program to overstate the results. For thisvery reason, it is critical to follow throughwith steps 3 and 4.

3) Insist on a pre- and post-sample site evaluation.The manufacturer provides samples and performs a test section that will enable you to visually see the results.Once the section is chosen, foot-candle pre-readings should be taken at 10’ increments underneath, between, in front of and behind the fixtures.After the samplesare installed, post-readings should be takenin the same places as the pre-readings.

4) Evaluate the visual results as well as the pre- and post-readings.Are the actual readings within 10% of the photometric plan readings? How does the area look and feel? Are there areas that are bright and then light drops off drastically? Are there dark spots or shadows?

5) Review the manufacturer warranty. Most products have a minimum 5 year warranty for all components with some products offering 10 year warranties on the LED diodes themselves. Does the warranty coverrepair or replacement? What happens if only part of the LED’s stop working? Doesthe warranty cover any labour costs to replace the defective product? After all, oneof the many benefits of LED is its long life providing substantial savings in maintenancecost, particularly 100’ light poles!

You may want to look into hiring an outsideprofessional to assist you in the process ofdeciding which product is best for your particular facility.

April 2015 World Port Development 31

c o n t a i n e rt e r m i n a l l i g h t i n g

L

LeeAnne Crane is a Lighting Specialist and CertifiedLighting Consultant with over 29 years experience in

the lighting industry. Since 2009 Crane has specialisedin the LED market and completed numerous successful

projects all over the country and abroad. You can contact LeeAnne Crane on

Ledexperts.fl@gmail.com

Your LED Lighting Checklist

Before: (8) 400W High Pressure Sodium high mast fixtures100’ mounting height

After: (8) 120W High Power LED high mast fixtures 100’mounting height

Photo courtesy of Aeon Lighting Technology Inc