What do boat navigation lights mean?

The red light indicates a vessel’s port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel’s starboard (right) side. Sternlight: This white light is seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel. Masthead Light: This white light shines forward and to both sides and is required on all power-driven vessels.

What navigation lights are you required to display?

The required lights are: Red and green sidelights visible from a distance of at least two miles away—or if less than 39.4 feet (12 meters) long, at least one mile away—on a dark, clear night. An all-round white light (if vessel is less than 39.4 feet long) or both a masthead light and a sternlight.

What does it mean when you see only a red and a green light on another boat?

Give way to your starboard side. Powerboat A: When only red and green lights are visible, you are approaching a sailboat head-on. Give way to your starboard side.

What navigation lights are you required to display when anchoring your boat for the night?

all-around white light
Anchored at night, the operator of a powerboat must display, from sunset to sunrise, in the fore part, an all-around white light. A powerboat anchored at night must display an all-around white light.

What navigation lights do I need on my boat?

For powered boats less than 39.4 feet, or 12 meters, you need to have the following set of navigation lights.

1. One all-around white light that you can see from 360 degrees and from two miles away;
2. And one pair of red and green sidelights that are visible at 112.5 degrees and from one mile away.

What must you do if you see another vessel’s red and white lights?

When you are in a power-driven vessel and you see a red, a green, and a white light, you are approaching another power-driven vessel head-on and both vessels must give way.

What does a flashing white light on a boat mean?

It has one long white light flash every 10 seconds. Seeing these marks means it is safe to pass in every direction. You can commonly find these in fairways, mid-channel or approaching land from the open sea (landfall mark).

What does a single white light on a boat tell you?

What Does a White Light Indicate? If only a white light is visible, you may be approaching another craft from behind. You are the give-way-craft and must take early and substantial action to steer well clear by altering your course and passing at a safe distance on the starboard (right) or port (left) side.

Is an anchor light required?

While it is not technically required for recreational vessels to exhibit an anchor light unless they are outside of a designated anchorage, or anchored in a narrow channel or anchorage where other vessels normally navigate, the Rules state that “a vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-around white …

What are the basic boat navigation lights rules?

So what are the basic navigation light rules? For most small vessels, motoring requires red and green (port and starboard) lights, and a white light visible in all directions around the boat. This is almost always a stern light and a masthead light on sailboats. Boats under sail require port and starboard lights, and a white stern light.

What is the purpose of a navigation light?

Navigation lights are used to prevent collisions at night or in times of reduced visibility, and are an essential tool in keeping you and your vessel safe. Nav lights allow you to see other nearby vessels, and allow other vessels to see you. Nav lights also provide information about the size, activity, and direction of travel.

What is the IALA pattern of marine navigation lighting?

A standard pattern of marine navigation lighting is followed for the identification of both the vessel as well as the IALA buoyage system at night. If you are required to move from sea to a channel you need to have a list of all the IALA as well as the other fixed navigational lights that are visible on entering the channel.

What are the different colors of navigation lights on ships?

On any vessel, navigation lights have a specific color, (white, red, green, yellow, blue), arc of illumination, range of visibility, and location, as required by law and regulations.