What type of boat requires navigation lights

If the vessel is longer than The arc required for sidelights is Stern Lights are located in the back of the boat or vessel. These lights can only be seen from behind the boat.

To be technical, it must show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of degrees. The light must also be fixed to show the light All vessels shorter than However, boats larger than In addition to navigation lights, other lights may also be required for your boat or vessel.

These include:. As you can see, the size of a boat is very important for determining what types of lights are required and their intensity. The Department of Homeland Security and United States Coast Guard published a guide in that details the exact requirements for navigation lights and visibility. 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. Navigation lights are also required for human-powered vessels canoe, kayak or for a sailing pleasure craft of less than 7 metres in length not under power. Toggle navigation. For boats less than Sidelights are red and green, and the color matters. Red lights are located portside, and green are starboard.

The lights shine from dead ahead to On some boats, sidelights can be combined into one bicolor light. The visible range of illumination should be 2 miles. Powerboats Powerboats need to have a masthead light forward, sidelights and a stern light. Vessels under 7 m in length and under 7 knots Power-driven vessels of less than 7 m in length, whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots, when under way, may exhibit an all-round white light.

Recreational vessels at anchor All recreational vessels must show an all-round white light while at anchor. Larger vessels For vessels under 50 m in length, a second masthead light is optional. Vessel towing another vessel When tow length is under m, two masthead lights are shown three masthead lights if over m sidelights and a sternlight. Vessel at anchor Length under 50 m: one all-round light where it can best be seen, a second lower light at stern is optional.

Length 50 m or more: two all-round lights, the forward one higher than the aft one. Length m or more:shall also illuminate her decks with available working or equivalent lights. Vessel aground Anchor lights and two all-round red lights. Vessel restricted in ability to manoeuvre includes diving vessels Three all-round lights, top and bottom lights red and the middle light white.

Vessel engaged in underwater operations or dredging Vessel with an obstruction on one side shall, in addition to restricted ability to manoeuvre lights, carry two all-round red lights on the side of the obstruction, and two all-round green lights on the side that vessels may pass. Vessel constrained by her draught Power-driven vessel restricted to a narrow channel by her draught and thus unable to deviate from course.

Pilot vessel on duty Two all-round lights, the top light white and the lower light red. Vessel not under command Two all-round red lights and, when making way through the water, sidelights and sternlight vessels under 12 m in length are not required to comply with these lights. Commercial fishing vessel trawling Two all-round lights, the top light green and the lower light white. Fishing vessel other than trawling Two all-round lights, the top light red and the lower light white. Vessel working in chains Vessel shows an all-round red light at each end and an all-round green light above the red light at the forward end to indicate the direction in which the vessel is proceeding.

Installing navigational lights The vessel preparation section of this website has guidance on how to install navigation lights. Was this page helpful? Was this helpful Yes No. Send Feedback.