What do very bright lights on the thames barrier mean?

[Somewhatfoolish]

So... yesterday evening, I forget the exact time, where there are normally nice green arrows on the thames barrier they lit up a brilliant white light for a while... what's that mean?

[dudleybloke]

aliens?

[Ledaig]

Thye may be trying something like this which applies to bridges on the Thames:

Special Signal Lights
In addition, all bridges from Tower Bridge to Wandsworth Bridge (except
the Millennium Footbridge), have special signal lights on the main navigational
arch on both the up and downstream sides. These are high intensity
white lights and are in addition to the normal bridge navigation lights.
They are visible by day and by night. When the lights are flashing it
indicates that one or more large vessels (or one or more tugs engaged in
towing) are about to navigate through the arch displaying the light.
The light will show an isophase light (i.e. 2 seconds on and 2 seconds off) to
indicate the presence of a single large vessel. When an additional large
vessel is in the same vicinity, the light will show very quick flashes (i.e. 90
flashes per minute).
Small vessels should keep clear of the arch displaying the light and its
approaches whilst the light is flashing.

[Gillet]

Somewhatfoolish said:

So... yesterday evening, I forget the exact time, where there are normally nice green arrows on the thames barrier they lit up a brilliant white light for a while... what's that mean?

You don't happen to live in Barrier Point do you? if so Hello! i'm in Tower 7.

[Dave_ITR]

Somewhatfoolish said:

So... yesterday evening, I forget the exact time, where there are normally nice green arrows on the thames barrier they lit up a brilliant white light for a while... what's that mean?

It means you are now possibly colour blind.

[Somewhatfoolish]

Gillet said:

Somewhatfoolish said:

So... yesterday evening, I forget the exact time, where there are normally nice green arrows on the thames barrier they lit up a brilliant white light for a while... what's that mean?

You don't happen to live in Barrier Point do you? if so Hello! i'm in Tower 7.

Afraid not old boy but I can see you over the river from my balcony... Millennium village here

ETA: No one has given me a very satisfactory answer yet (although I am grateful for attempted help ) . Those lights were on for ages, weren't flashing or anything... I saw at least one clipper service, and there may have been a few, passing through it...

Edited by Somewhatfoolish on Thursday 3rd December 22:55

[Somewhatfoolish]

They're doing it again as I type... I've attached an image this time if it helps anyone

[oldsalt]

Late reply.
These are fog lights, nothing to do with Isophase white lights on the Thames bridges which give warning to river users that something big is approaching.
The fog lights are tested periodically which is what you saw.

[anonymous-user]

oldsalt said:

Late reply.
These are fog lights, nothing to do with Isophase white lights on the Thames bridges which give warning to river users that something big is approaching.
The fog lights are tested periodically which is what you saw.

Blimey, there’s late and then there’s that!