It's The Law: Required Equipment for Your Vessel
Navigation Lights
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The required navigation lights must be displayed
between sunset and sunrise and during periods of restricted
visibility.
Power-Driven Vessels Less Than 20 Meters Long When Underway
If less than 20 meters (65.6 ft.) long, these vessels must
exhibit the lights as shown in Figure 1.
Remember, power-driven vessels include sailboats operating
under power. The required lights are:
- Red and green sidelights visible from a distance of at
least two miles, or if less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) long,
at least one mile, on a dark clear night
- An all-round white light or both a masthead light and
a sternlight. These lights must be visible from a distance
of at least two miles on a dark clear night. The all-round
white light (or the masthead light) must be at least one
meter (3.3 ft.) higher than the sidelights.
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Unpowered Vessels When Underway
Unpowered vessels are sailboats or those that are paddled, poled
or rowed.
If less than 20 meters (65.6 ft.) long, these vessels must exhibit
the lights as shown in Figure 2:
- Red and green sidelights visible from a distance of at least
two miles, or if less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) long, at least
one mile, on a dark clear night
- A sternlight visible from a distance of at least two miles.
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If less than 7 meters (23.0 ft.) long, these vessels should:
- If practical, exhibit the same lights as required for
unpowered vessels less than 20 meters (65.6 ft.) in length
- If not practical, exhibit at least one bright light,
lantern or flashlight visible all around the horizon as
shown in Figure 3.
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All Vessels When Not Underway
All vessels are required to display a white
light visible in all directions whenever they are moored or anchored
outside a designated mooring area between sunset and sunrise.
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