Boating Basics: On the Water with Your Vessel

Nighttime Navigation

Be on the lookout for the lights of other vessels when boating at night. Several types of lights serve as navigational aids at night. There are four common navigation lights.

Types of Nighttime Navigational Lights

Illustrations

Sidelights: 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.

Sternlight: This white light is seen from behind the vessel.

Masthead Light: This white light shines forward and to both sides and is required on all power-driven vessels. A masthead light must be displayed by all vessels when under engine power. The absence of this light indicates a sailboat under sail.

All-Round White Light: On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, this light may be used to combine a masthead light and sternlight into a single white light that can be seen by other vessels from any direction. This light serves as an anchor light when sidelights are extinguished.

Sailboat showing sidelights, masthead light and sternlight

Powerboat showing all-round white light, and red and green sidelights

Encountering Vessels at Night

Meanings of Different Color Lights	Illustrations
A white and a green light: When you see a white and a green light, you are the stand-on vessel. However, remain alert in case the other vessel operator does not see you or does not know the navigation rules.
Only a white light: When you see only a white light, you are overtaking another vessel. It is the stand-on vessel whether it is underway or anchored. You may go around it on either side.
Red and a white light: When you see a red and a white light, you must give way to the other vessel! Slow down and allow the vessel to pass, or pass to the right behind the vessel.

Encountering a Sailboat at Night

When you see only a green light or only a red light, you are approaching a sailboat under sail and you must give way. The sailboat under sail is always the stand-on vessel!

Powerboat giving way to boat with only green light (indicating it is a sailboat)

Powerboat giving way to boat with only red light (indicating it is a sailboat)

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Online boating safety handbook last modified: April 22, 2008
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