Paradip, Dec. 2: Erratic and inconsistent beacon signals from the lighthouse here have become a cause for concern for sailors and navigators.

"The system has developed technical snags. Measures are being taken on a war footing to set the system right. On occasions, the signal is not working, thereby inconveniencing the mariners," said assistant engineer of Paradip lighthouse Arabind Kumar Singh.

The disruption in the signal occurs for a few minutes. Then things get right automatically, he said.

"We have written to the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, Calcutta, highlighting the beacon-related hitches. Engineers from Calcutta have arrived here to restore the system. The machines at the lighthouse were manufactured by a Taiwanese firm. So, it may take some time to replace the defunct machines. However, we are trying our level best to repair the signal temporarily," Singh said.

"The breakdown of the lighthouse is affecting the crew of small fishing vessels, both mechanised and country boats. They are experiencing a harrowing ordeal. We have received reports of crew in fishing vessels getting distracted and disoriented by the erratic signal from the lighthouse. Around 8pm on Monday, the signal did not work for a few minutes," said president of Orissa Trawl Operators' Association Sumant Biswal.

However, officials said the periodic breakdown did not pose much problem for mariners, as the False Point lighthouse at Batighar in Kendrapara district is located near the Paradip coastal region.

"The navigators do not face much difficulty in finding the longitudinal and latitudinal location of ships and vessels," said a lighthouse employee.

Besides, the Paradip lighthouse is armed with the latest differential global positioning system and other gadgets. Navigators in ships and deep-sea vessels, which have satellite connectivity and linkage, receive radio signals constantly transmitted by us, the officials said.

Merchant ships that transport cargoes are equipped with gadgets to handle such eventuality. These ships are not entirely dependent on lighthouses, said an official of the Paradip Port Trust.