Are anchor lights a navigation hazard?

[Pye_End]

Would have thought that 20 (b) makes that quite explicit - you should not be showing anything that could confuse the watchkeeper for something else - eg a red channel marker, or a northerly cardinal. Ok, there are other possibilities not otherwise seen at sea, but deck working lamps are much harder to mistake than some garden ornaments?

Makes a lot of sense to make it easier for other mariners to work out what is where, even if it just for self preservation.

 

[JumbleDuck]

20

(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise and during such times
no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified
in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the
keeping of a proper look-out.

Which rules specify flashing green, blue or red? Yellow is out, of course, unless you are an anchored hovercraft, seaplane or, I think, submarine.

 

[obmij]

Flashing green, flashing red could easily be mistaken for lateral marks

 

[Resolution]

Taking note of both Rule 20 and 30, can there be any objection to a string of LED lights ( of any colour, flashing or not) strung up over the cockpit? In addition to a proper anchor light of course.

 

[aquaplane]

So if I'm in an 8m yacht in a recognised anchorage and I don't have to show an anchor light, I can't show any other lights either in case I confuse anyone?

 

[KellysEye]

We passed some small anchored fishing boats off the Venezuelan coast and the range of lights was, white, blue, green, red, yellow and orange and perhaps some I missed. The most impressive was a chandelier with white lights and the least impressive was one that shone a torch on to keep us away. May I suggest all yachts use a chandelier as an anchor light.