Marine Navigation Lights: Helping Ships Navigate Safely Through the Dark
When ships are sailing in darkness after sunset, it can be challenging to see each other. That’s where marine lights come in, they are like a ship’s eyes and signal at night. In doing so, they help prevent a collision to be made and keep everyone safe on the water.

A Quick History of Navigation Lights
Ships have been using lights to navigate safely for almost 200 years. In the 1800’s the United States and the United Kingdom issued the first rules of lighting a ship. Before the end of the 1800’s, international agreements made the rules for ship lighting uniform worldwide, resulting in all ships following a similar system of lighting.

What are Navigation Lights and Why Do They Matter?
Navigation lights fulfill three primary roles:

Show Position and Direction: Navigation lights assist other vessels in seeing the position of a ship, but also seeing the direction it is heading.

Convey Vessel Type: Different kinds of ships use specific light sequences to indicate what they are doing (towing, fishing, etc.).

Prevent Collisions: By interpreting the lights, captains know when to slow down or stop and if they need to change course.

Without these lights, sailing at night or in low visibility would be dangerous.

Where Are the Lights and What Do They Mean?
Ships use three main coloured lights placed in specific spots:

Green Light on Starboard (Right) Side: This light is visible from ahead to just behind the side of the ship on the right.

Red Light on Port (Left) Side: This light shows from ahead to just behind the left side of the ship.

White Light at the Stern (Back): Visible behind the ship, it lets others know the ship’s rear.

Additionally, larger ships have white masthead lights on top of their masts, shining forward and sideways, helping other vessels judge the ship’s size and direction.

How Far Can These Lights Be Seen?
The distance you can see navigation lights depends on the ship’s size and the light type. Distances are measured in nautical miles, where 1 nautical mile equals 1.852 kilometres.

Here’s a quick idea:

Why Is This Important?
Imagine two ships heading directly towards each other at night. By looking at each other’s red and green lights, both captains know to steer right to avoid collision. These simple colours keep complex waterways safe and organized.

Keeping Navigation Lights Working
Having the correct lights isn’t enough—they must be maintained properly:

Regular checks to make sure all lights work.

Replacing bulbs and batteries quickly when needed.

Training crew to understand and use the lights correctly.

In Summary
Navigation lights are essential for safe travel at sea after dark. They communicate a ship’s presence, direction, and status without words. Learning how to read and use these lights properly is a key skill for anyone working on or around ships.

With these lights guiding the way, ships can sail confidently, knowing they’ll be seen and understood, even in the darkest nights.