LED Lights a Hidden Hazard on Boats?

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a Marine Safety Alert on a risk that many of us never even knew existed. LED lights, popular with recreational boaters, may be causing reception problems with VHF radio and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). The Coast Guard says it has received reports from crews, ship owners and inspectors about interference when they're in the vicinity of LED lighting, including navigation lights, search and floodlights, interior and exterior lights, and decorative lights. The LED lamps were found to cause radio frequency interference that poses a threat to safe communication, like calls for help. In an example given by the Coast Guard, "the maritime rescue coordination center in one port was unable to contact a ship involved in a traffic separation scheme incident by VHF radio.