navigation lights

[sealine 218]

Hi, can anyone tell me what the legal requirement for nav lights on a small run around boat ? The boat is 15FT long and has a 55hp outboard. There are currently no lights fitted and in a way i like that (nothing to go wrong!). I was considering fitting a pole light for when i am at anchor. Any advice would be grateful . Cheers Mark

 

[andygc]

COLREGS Rules 22, 23 and 30

Mark

Could I suggest that a good starting point with a question like this is to do a Google for the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea? However, what you need is Rule 23, which I have added below, Rule 22 for the visible range of the lights and Rule 30 for anchoring.

You are less than 7 metres but maximum speed is more than 7 knots so you need at least an all round white light and sidelights. You should be able to find a small combined sidelight fitting to put on your bow. A white light on a post could serve as both the white light for use under way and when at anchor, so you would be looking at two light fittings to do what you need.

Cheers, Andy

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Power-driven vessels underway

(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit;

(i) a masthead light forward;

(ii) a second masthead light abaft and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50m in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such light but may do so;

(iii) sidelights;

(iv) a sternlight.

(b) An air-cushion vessel operating in the non-displacement mode shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light.

(c) A WIG craft only when taking off, landing and in flight near the surface shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit a high-intensity all-round flashing red light.

(d)

(i) A power-driven vessel of less that 12 metres in length may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights;

(ii) a power-driven vessel of less than 7 metres in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights;

(iii) the masthead light or all-round white light on a power-driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length may be displaced from the fore and aft centreline of the vessel if centreline fitting is not practicable, provided that the sidelights are combined in one lantern which shall be carried on the fore and aft centreline of the vessel or located as nearly as practicable in the same fore and aft line as the masthead light or the all-round white light.

 

[Goldie]

Have a look at the IRPCS (AK 'The ColRegs') at:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/burnhamsailingclub/SEASAFETY/IRPCSRULES[2].pdf

Specifically, have a look at Rule 30 sub paras a and e.

Your all round white light is all that is required at anchor, although at 15ft LOA, this applies: "A vessel of less than 7 metres in length, when at anchor, not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule".

That said, showing a light at anchor has to make sense! As a bonus, and as your boat is <7m LOA, the same all round white is all that is actually required under way PROVIDING that your boat is only capable of 7 kts or less. However, if practicable, or the boat will exceed 7 kts, the minimum lighting requirement underway is an all-round white plus red & green sidelights (see Rule 23). I appreciate that you only mentioned anchoring and want to keep it simple, but are you sure that you will never need to transit - perhaps leave an anchorage which has become untenable - at night? Hope this helps.

 

[VicS]

Latest version of the colregs complete with annexes can be found on the Coastgaurd website:

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/msn_1781-2.pdf

See also the replies to the same question that has been double posted on the Mobo forum http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210975.

 

[sealine 218]

nav lights

Ok, thanks everyone so it looks like i need to fit all in nav lights .Problem is the bow is raken up with a bow roller and because of the boat size etc (15ft open) it leaves little room to fit port, starboard and steaming lights not to mention how low the sides are. Have just seen a pole light with tri-colour light assy, do you think this would be any good. Cheers all mark

 

[VicS]

There are combined allround white plus side light assemblies see http://www.force4.co.uk/984/Force-4-12m-Combination-Navigation-Light---White.html

But how that complies with a 1 metre vertical separation requirement I dont know!!

If by tricolour you mean with the white only visible from astern then that is for sailing vessels

 

[andygc]

Ok, thanks everyone so it looks like i need to fit all in nav lights .Problem is the bow is taken up with a bow roller and because of the boat size etc (15ft open) it leaves little room to fit port, starboard and steaming lights not to mention how low the sides are. Have just seen a pole light with tri-colour light assy, do you think this would be any good. Cheers all mark

You don't have to fit a bicolour light on the bow, so you don't have to fit separate port & starboard lights just because you have a bow roller. You just have to fit the light so that it is visible through the correct angles when other boats are looking at you. That light VicS found is non-compliant, because of the 1 metre separation rule.

Have you got a photo of the boat so we can see the layout?

 

[VicS]

That light VicS found is non-compliant, because of the 1 metre separation rule.

Quite and despite a good search I cannot find any exception that would allow it on a small boat.

I noticed earlier this year that the ferry operating in Bembridge harbour had all the lights pretty much in cluster together. Not that particular assembly but certainly nothing like a 1 metre vertical separation between the side lights and the steaming light.