ACR Firefly Marker Light
According to the United States Coast Guard, a person is injured or killed in a boating accident every 2.5 hours. When you consider the sheer number of people who are out on their boats every day, this may seem like a small number. But in reality, you never know when the next accident will take place and it is best to be prepared for such an event.
One such story of survival happened in June, 2011 when Megan Johnson fell overboard on a casino cruise ship late one stormy night. This was the first cruise for Megan who was not very comfortable with the water, but her boyfriend talked her into coming aboard and before long they were both lost in the excitement of gambling aboard the vessel.
However, a rather fierce storm developed which caused the captain to signal that they were heading back to shore. As the storm hit, the cruise ship began to pitch and roll causing some panic with the passengers, but in actuality the storm itself was no real threat to the ship. Megan however, ran out onto the deck of the ship to see the storm for herself despite her fears of the ocean. Almost instantly, she lost her balance near the rail and was pitched over into the ocean. While several of the passengers, including her boyfriend saw where she went over, Megan was impossible to see in the ocean because of the dark conditions and the waves.
Marker Lights to the Rescue
Fortunately for Megan, the crew of the cruise ship acted immediately upon the report of her going overboard and responded by tossing several marker lights into the ocean where Megan was last seen. The lights were so bright that she was instantly spotted and the crew managed to toss over a lifebuoy and then pull her back onto the ship. Without the marker lights, Megan might not have survived her experience in the ocean.
The SM-2 Marker Light is a remarkable device, putting out 70,000 candlelight power light in a Xenon strobe that will last at least 36 hours. When placed in the sea, the light will automatically right itself no matter the ocean swells and its tough, durable exterior will keep the light and battery protected from the water even during the roughest conditions.
In Megan’s case, the marker lights were used to highlight her location in the darkness of the ocean. This is what marker lights are designed to do because they can be seen easily from the air as well as along the ocean surface. Unlike flares which only last a short time, marker lights can last for up to 60 hours if needed, making them perfect for any vessel that gets into trouble or for those who get swept overboard and need the assistance of the light to be spotted.
The marker light shines in all directions and is visible for over 3 miles. It’s relatively small size is perfect to store aboard virtually all watercraft that is ocean-going as well as being out on large lakes. Anyplace where a boater may need to call for assistance is where the SM-2 Marker Light is needed.
Marker Lights 