lights and shapes

Masthead light

fore and aft of the ship

WHITE light

225 degreed

right ahead to 22.5 degreed abaft(behind) on either side of the ship

Sidelights

Port =RED 112.5 degrees

Starboard= GREEN 112.5 degrees

right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side

Sternlight

White Light

135 degrees in the back

67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel.

Towing light

yellow light having the same characteristics as stern light

All-round light

White light

360 degrees

Flashing light

means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or more per minute.

360 degrees

Special flashing light

yellow flashing light used on certain towing vessels to let others know a tow is happening, especially at night or in poor visibility.

50 to 70 times per minute

• It covers half a circle in the front, maybe a little more — 180° to 225° total.

• So it lights up the forward half of the boat, not the back.

In vessels of 50 meters or more in length:

- a masthead light, 6 miles;

− a sidelight, 3 miles;

− a sternlight, 3 miles;

− a towing light, 3 miles;

− a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 3 miles.

In vessels of 12 meters or more in length but less than 50 meters in length:

a masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 meters, 3 miles;

− a sidelight, 2 miles;

− a sternlight, 2 miles;

− a towing light, 2 miles;

− a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.

In vessels of less than 12 meters in length:

a masthead light, 2 miles;

− a sidelight, 1 mile;

− a sternlight, 2 miles;

− a towing light, 2 miles;

− a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.

In inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed

a white all-round light, 3 miles.

Bow aspect means (front of the ship)

you see ship straight ahead

Starboard aspect

you see green and mast headlight

port aspect

you see red light and mast headlight

stern aspect (back of the ship)

you only see mast headlight no sidelights

power driven vessel underway

mast headlight 225

2nd mast headlight in the back and higher than forward one

***If ship is less than 50 meters this is optional for them

sidelight 112.5

stern lights 135

Air cushioned vessel operating in none displacement mode must display

mast headlight 225

2nd mast headlight in the back and higher than forward one

***If ship is less than 50 meters this is optional for them

sidelights 112.5

stern light 135

ALL AROUND FLASHING YELLOW 360 degrees

If vessel is in DISPLACEMENT MODE then NO flashing yellow light

WIG CRAFT LIGHTS

when

-taking off

-landing

-in flight near the surface

must display

Mast headlight forward 225

2nd mast headlight in the back and higher than forward one

***If vessel is less than 50 meters this is optional for them

Stern Light

Side Lights

HIGH INTENSITY ALL AROUND RED FLASHING LIGHT

if cant comply you must display lights as closely as possible

Power driven vessel less than 12 meters

Small boat under 12 meters can skip the separate masthead and sternlight.

Instead, it can show one all-round white light (visible 360°) + sidelights (red & green).

All around mast headlight or all around white light may be displaced from the fore and aft centerline of a vessesl if fitting is not practicable

Power driven vessel less then 7 meters max speed cant go over 7 knots

Must have all around white light and side lights if practicable

Power Driven Vessel operation on Great Lakes

may carry an all-round white light instead of:

the second masthead light, and

the sternlight