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A Guide to Navigation Lights

A Guide to Navigation Lights

Updated July 2025

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All Round White Light:

A white light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360°.

Masthead Light:

A white light placed over the fore and aft centreline of a vessel, showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225° and fixed to show from anywhere ahead, to just behind the beams of the vessel.

Sternlight:

A white light placed near the stern, showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 135°, fixed
to show from behind the vessel

Sidelights:

A green light on the starboard (right) side, and a red light on the port (left) side of a vessel. Each shows an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5°, and is fixed to show from ahead to just behind the beams of the vessel on its respective side.

On a vessel of less than 20 metres in length, the sidelights may be combined in one light unit, carried on the fore and aft centreline of the vessel.

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