Being at sea can be one of the most calming or aggressive experiences you can have depending on the weather and type of vessel you go out with. When it comes to boating though things are typically on the calmer side since the activity itself usually makes for a more relaxing experience.
You can relieve your mind from stressful events and get enough vitamin D for the day at the same time. You experience what is called the “blue mind” which is the ability of a large mass of water to make your cortisol levels decrease and serotonin levels increase. Boating involves a lot of work though which means you get enough exercise for the day.
Navigation Lights
What Are They?
Boating wouldn't be as relaxing as it is without safety precautions being taken especially at night and navigation lights are exactly at the core of all this. These lights are not there to illuminate as each marine boat navigation light has its own purpose. Navigation lights are used to tell others of your position and the direction in which you're moving without flashing in other people's faces.
Meaning of Colours
There are three colours boat navigation lights can emit and those are red, green and white. The red light is placed on the left side of a vessel so that when other boats pass you if they see the red light, they know that they're passing you from your left side.
The green light is placed on the right side of your boat so that when other vessels pass you, they know that they're doing so on your right. The same goes for other vessels so you know where you are depending on their position and direction in which they're moving. A white marine navigation light signifies that you're looking at a boat's stern, meaning it's moving away from you.
Types of Navigation Lights
Side
Sidelights are port and starboard lights with the former signified by a red light and the latter by a green light. Starboard and port marine navigation lights can be separate or combined in the form of bi-coloured lights which display both colours by being mounted at the front. Each colour is shown on the side it's used for without interfering with the other. That's because the beam of these boat navigation lights is an unbroken arc over the horizon with an angle of 112,5 °.
Stern & Masthead
The stern light is the white light that is placed near the stern and produces a beam over the horizon in an arc of 113°. Masthead lights also produce a white beam of light but they have an arc over the horizon with an angle of 225° and go over the centreline of your vessel.
All-Round
An all-round light also has a white beam but it can shine a light over the horizon in an unbroken arc of 360°.
Navigation Light Rules
Powerboats Underway
When your powerboat is underway there are different regulations on what lights you can use depending on its total length. For instance, powerboats underway that are up to 7m long and travelling at speeds of 7 knots must have an all-around white light and if possible, either separate or combined sidelights.
Powerboats underway that are anywhere between 7m and 12m long with the ability to travel faster than 7 knots need to have a masthead or stern light or instead an all-around white light as well as separate or combined side lights.
Any vessel that is between 12m and 20m long no matter the speeds it's capable of doing must have a stern light, masthead light and combined or separate side lights.
Anchored Powerboats
When you anchor your powerboat there are different regulations in different states according to the length of your vessel.
NT requires that vessels under 12m have their masthead or stern lights on as an alternative to their all-around white light while anchored. However, QLD requires that all boats either anchored or attached to a buoy mooring must have their all-around white light on.
SA regulations state that any vessels that are no longer than 7m are not obligated to have an all-around white light on unless they are in a narrow channel or anchorage with other vessels around. Both VIC and WA mandate that vessels under 7m don't have to show an all-around white light either but that doesn't go for a narrow channel or anchorage that other vessels navigate through it.
Conclusion
In the same way that no vessel is made the same, not all marine navigation lights are either and thus they are used differently in different scenarios and territories. Being aware of local regulations and using your lights accordingly means you ensure the safety of both you and others around you and make navigating the sea at night a much easier task.
