USCG investigating laser-beam strikes on vessels in Chesapeake Bay - Splash 247
Looks to me it's a single individual.
Looks to me it's a single individual.
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Ships targeted by lasers traveling the Chesapeake bay
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diachi
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Just what this hobby needs in addition to people illegally pointing at aircraft---people illegaly pointing at and endangering ships in waters in the National Capital Region
The Coast Guard takes laser strikes on ships wherever they occur, seriously -- See: Lasers | Coast Guard News
“Laser lights, and other bright lights can be a hazard to navigation,” said Lt. Trish Elliston, Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capitol Region. “The most likely scenario is the laser would blind or distract a pilot which would prevent the pilot from seeing a smaller vessel. This could cause a collision or other serious incident in the shipping channel.”
"The Laser Safety Act, makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly and willfully cause or attempt to cause bodily injury by shining, pointing, or focusing the beam of a laser pointer on an individual operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft. The penalty is a maximum 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500."
"The Coast Guard is working with state and local law enforcement along with Chesapeake Bay Pilots to investigate the incidents. Anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of the individual, or individuals, involved are asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region Command Center at 410-576-2525 or via email at cgis-baltimore@uscg.mil"
From: Coast Guard warns of laser strikes to commercial vessels in National Capitol Region | Coast Guard News
:crackup: Wry sense of humour!
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That'd be some dumbass shit pointing lasers at boats.
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BobMc
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You mean the earth isn't flat?
Metagyrate diminished rhombicosidodecahedral shaped, loosely speaking.
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Hi,
I think its hard to believe that a laser strike can disable a captain at the helm, besides there are at least 4 or more personnel in the wheel house to take over the helm and these vessels are under an auto cruise. And these vessels weigh hundreds of tons and maximum knots are way below 30 knots if less in a channel heading out the the major shipping channels. Even if there was another vessel in the way it would take these huge vessels at least 15 min to slow to a stop or more . So basically its nothing like striking an aircraft that is moving much faster . But trying to locate the origin of the beam is a must for the safety of the crew. But then again people are ignorant and thats been proven time and time again. Hey maybe it were some vikings trying to swag a ship for booty.
Rich
I think its hard to believe that a laser strike can disable a captain at the helm, besides there are at least 4 or more personnel in the wheel house to take over the helm and these vessels are under an auto cruise. And these vessels weigh hundreds of tons and maximum knots are way below 30 knots if less in a channel heading out the the major shipping channels. Even if there was another vessel in the way it would take these huge vessels at least 15 min to slow to a stop or more . So basically its nothing like striking an aircraft that is moving much faster . But trying to locate the origin of the beam is a must for the safety of the crew. But then again people are ignorant and thats been proven time and time again. Hey maybe it were some vikings trying to swag a ship for booty.
Rich
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The report stated that several people described the beam as painful to look at. This indicates a cheap pointer to me, as a higher power one would have caused damage to the vision of people being struck in the eye(s). I'm guessing if there is a single idiot responsible for all of these and he continues to do this, he will be caught. I'll bet it's a kid doing it.
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It's not really a matter of whether it could disable the boat, more a matter of why an adult with that dull and immature to go about doing that. That'd be about as dumb as a full grown adult thinking it's funny to shoot people in his swimming pool with a airsoft gun.Hi,
I think its hard to believe that a laser strike can disable a captain at the helm, besides there are at least 4 or more personnel in the wheel house to take over the helm and these vessels are under an auto cruise. And these vessels weigh hundreds of tons and maximum knots are way below 30 knots if less in a channel heading out the the major shipping channels. Even if there was another vessel in the way it would take these huge vessels at least 15 min to slow to a stop or more . So basically its nothing like striking an aircraft that is moving much faster . But trying to locate the origin of the beam is a must for the safety of the crew. But then again people are ignorant and thats been proven time and time again. Hey maybe it were some vikings trying to swag a ship for booty.
Rich
Benm
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Perhaps someone thinks he is running a lighthouse?
Being 'painful to look at' is no definition of actual risk at all. If you are driving through a tunnel on a sunny day the light when you get out of it is also 'painful to look at' but it's just natural light that would be no problem to deal with if your eyes didn't adapt to the darkness in the tunnel.
People just whine too much whenever lasers are involved. It can also be painfully bright for a pilot that flies through a cloud layer and then into full sunlight - i guess noone ever tried to sue the sun over that
Being 'painful to look at' is no definition of actual risk at all. If you are driving through a tunnel on a sunny day the light when you get out of it is also 'painful to look at' but it's just natural light that would be no problem to deal with if your eyes didn't adapt to the darkness in the tunnel.
People just whine too much whenever lasers are involved. It can also be painfully bright for a pilot that flies through a cloud layer and then into full sunlight - i guess noone ever tried to sue the sun over that
BobMc
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Metagyrate diminished rhombicosidodecahedral shaped, loosely speaking.
You know, that's what I was thinking.
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Actually lasers are banned completely at Ocean City Maryland.
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Another nail in the coffin for portables then! What next, astronaut temporarily blinded by laser space maniac. :thinking:
Benm
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Well, that'd be the ultimate advertisment for a beam expander
Lets see, at 500 km best case distance to the ISS that'd be a 'dot' 500 meters wide at 1 mrad, sort of comparable to how a lightbulb in your typical house illuminates the facade of the next block over.
To get a 'dot' 5 meters in diameter onto the ISS you'd need a 100 to 1 beam expander, which would be a fairly large telescope with a mirror in the order of a meter diameter. Still no danger of eye damage with a few watts of output power, but it should be very visibly from the ISS if aimed properly.
Perhaps astronauts would actually like a 'hi there' signal like that: unlike pilots astronauts seem to be more open to interaction with people on the ground, using things like HAM radio and such.
