Night navigation lights are important for vessels to see each other and determine direction, size, and activity in order to avoid collisions. Basic running lights include red and green sidelights, an all-around white light, a masthead light, and a stern light. Lights must be displayed between sunset and sunrise and in periods of low visibility. Additional lights indicate activities like fishing, towing, and restricted maneuverability. Proper use of navigation lights helps vessels safely navigate at night and in hazardous conditions.
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WHY NAV LIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT?
▸ So another vessel can see if a risk of danger or collision exists
▸ In order to take the appropriate action to avoid collision
▸ The direction the boat is travelling
▸ To help determine the size of the boat
▸ To help understand ‘what’ the vessel is doing i.e. at anchor,
underway, fishing etc
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BASIC RUNNING LIGHTS:
▸ Side Lights = These red and green lights are
called sidelights (also called combination
lights) because they are visible to another
vessel approaching from the side or head-on.
The red light indicates a vessel's port /left
side; the green indicates a vessel's
starboard /right side.
▸ All - Around White = On power-driven
vessels less than 12m in length, this light may
be used to combine a masthead light and
sternlight into a single white light, visible
360° that can be seen by other vessels from
any direction. This light also operates as an
anchor light when sidelights are turned off.
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BASIC RUNNING LIGHTS:
▸ Masthead Light = This white light shines
forward and to both sides and is required on
all power-driven vessels. (On smaller boats
the masthead light and sternlight can be
combined into an all-round white light;
larger boats must have a separate masthead
light.) A masthead light must be displayed
by all vessels when under engine power.
The absence of this light indicates a sailing
vessel because when under sail they only
need display sidelights and a sternlight.
▸ Stern Light = This white light is seen only
from behind or nearly behind the vessel.
Visible 135° (67.5° on each side from astern)
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SAILING YACHT
▸ Under way & making way
Lights:
▸ Tri-Colour OR
▸ Port + Starboard + White
Stern light
▸ When under power, the
Sailing vessel may not use a
tri-colour.
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AT ANCHOR - UNDER 50M
Lights:
▸ 1 x All round white light
AT ANCHOR - OVER 50M
Lights:
▸ 2 x white lights, one higher
than the other.
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RESTRICTED IN ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE
Lights:
‣ When underway, Running
Lights (vessel size specific) +
Activity Identification:
▸ Red / White / Red Lights
vertically stacked
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