Night navigation lights are important for vessels to see each other and determine direction, size, and activity in order to avoid collisions. Basic running lights include red and green sidelights, an all-around white light, a masthead light, and a stern light. Lights must be displayed between sunset and sunrise and in periods of low visibility. Additional lights indicate activities like fishing, towing, and restricted maneuverability. Proper use of navigation lights helps vessels safely navigate at night and in hazardous conditions.

1. NIGHT NAVIGATION LIGHTS
WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK

2. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
WHY NAV LIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT?
▸ So another vessel can see if a risk of danger or collision exists
▸ In order to take the appropriate action to avoid collision
▸ The direction the boat is travelling
▸ To help determine the size of the boat
▸ To help understand ‘what’ the vessel is doing i.e. at anchor,
underway, fishing etc

3. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
BASIC RUNNING LIGHTS:
▸ Side Lights = 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.
▸ All - Around White = On power-driven
vessels less than 12m in length, this light may
be used to combine a masthead light and
sternlight into a single white light, visible
360° that can be seen by other vessels from
any direction. This light also operates as an
anchor light when sidelights are turned off.

4. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
BASIC RUNNING LIGHTS:
▸ Masthead Light = This white light shines
forward and to both sides and is required on
all power-driven vessels. (On smaller boats
the masthead light and sternlight can be
combined into an all-round white light;
larger boats must have a separate masthead
light.) A masthead light must be displayed
by all vessels when under engine power.
The absence of this light indicates a sailing
vessel because when under sail they only
need display sidelights and a sternlight.
▸ Stern Light = This white light is seen only
from behind or nearly behind the vessel.
Visible 135° (67.5° on each side from astern)

5. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
WHEN TO USE NAV LIGHTS?
▸ Between sunset & sunrise
▸ Restricted visibility

6. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
UNDER 7M & UNDER 7 KNOTS
▸ A vessel under 7 metres in
length and travelling under 7
knots.
Light:
▸ All around white

7. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
POWER VESSEL - UNDER 50M
▸ Under way & making way
Lights:
▸ Port + Starboard + All around
white

8. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
SAILING YACHT
▸ Under way & making way
Lights:
▸ Tri-Colour OR
▸ Port + Starboard + White
Stern light
▸ When under power, the
Sailing vessel may not use a
tri-colour.

9. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
POWER VESSEL - OVER 50M
▸ Under way & making way
Lights:
▸ Port + Starboard + 2 x White
Masthead lights + White stern
light

10. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
AT ANCHOR - UNDER 50M
Lights:
▸ 1 x All round white light
AT ANCHOR - OVER 50M
Lights:
▸ 2 x white lights, one higher
than the other.

11. VESSEL ACTIVITY

12. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
FISHING VESSEL
Lights:
▸ When underway, Running
Lights (vessel size specific) +
Activity Identification:
▸ Red Over White Light

13. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
TRAWLING VESSEL
Lights:
▸ Running Lights (vessel size
specific) +
Activity Identification:
▸ Green over White Light

14. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
TOWING - UNDER 200M
Lights:
▸ When underway, Running
Lights (vessel size specific) +
▸ Yellow stern light +
Activity Identification:
▸ Two masthead white lights

15. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
TOWING - OVER 200M
Lights:
▸ When underway, Running
Lights (vessel size specific) +
▸ Yellow stern light +
Activity Identification:
▸ 3 x masthead white lights

16. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
PILOT VESSEL
Lights:
▸ When underway, Running
Lights (vessel size specific) +
Activity Identification:
▸ White over Red Light

17. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
CONSTRAINED BY DRAUGHT
Lights:
▸ Running Lights (vessel size
specific) +
Activity Identification:
▸ 3 x Red vertically stacked
lights

18. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
NOT UNDER COMMAND
Lights:
▸ When underway, Running
Lights (vessel size specific) +
Activity Identification:
▸ 2 x Red Lights vertically
stacked

19. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
RESTRICTED IN ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE
Lights:
‣ When underway, Running
Lights (vessel size specific) +
Activity Identification:
▸ Red / White / Red Lights
vertically stacked

20. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
RESTRICTED IN ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE
Lights:
▸ White Masthead Light +
Activity Identification:
▸ 2 x Red Lights vertically
stacked

21. WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
DREDGING
Lights:
▸ Restricted in Ability to
Manoeuvre lights (red/white/
red) +
▸ 2 x red lights on side of
obstruction +
▸ 2 x green lights on the side
that vessels may pass

22. FOR RYA ONLINE COURSES &
MORE TUTORIALS VISIT ‘FREE
TUTORIALS’ ON
MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK
Marine Education RYA Training Centre
WWW.MARINE-EDUCATION.CO.UK