When was it agreed that port lights should be reg and starboard green

[tudorsailor]

The family has been discussing and now have the following questions

When did ships start displaying green and red navigation lights?
When was it agreed which side they should be on and why?



Thanks

TS

 

[lenseman]

In 1838 the United States passed an act requiring steamboats running between sunset and sunrise to carry one or more signal lights; color, visibility and location were not specified. In 1848 the United Kingdom passed regulations that required steam vessels to display red and green sidelights as well as a white masthead light. In 1849 the U.S. Congress extended the light requirements to sailing vessels. In 1889 the United States convened the first International Maritime Conference to consider regulations for preventing collisions. The resulting Washington Conference Rules were adopted by the U.S in 1890 and became effective internationally in 1897. Within these rules was the requirement for steamships to carry a second mast head light. The international 1948 Safety of Life at Sea Conference recommended a mandatory second masthead light solely for power driven vessels over 150 feet in length and a fixed sternlight for almost all vessels. The regulations have changed little since then. [1]
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea established in 1972 stipulates the requirements for the navigation lights required on a vessel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navigation_light

 

[Kawasaki]

Tiss generally agreed that 'port' was used to tell the difference between the old starboard and larboard.
When twas rather windy the ancients (yer know, like Searush and other dwellers of scuttlebutt) got confused when 'LARBOARD' was shouted so they said , right then, we will shout 'PORT' in future.

Anyway
When boats parked in the olden days the flippen rudder gadgett was on the right hand side
So they parked on the left hand side.
Now in the 16th century or thereabouts we wus liking a drop of port
Now a good place to get it from was O Porto.
In Portugal you see.
So by loading the red stuff on the left hand side there you are!
OK, so why is green on tother side?
Well its nowt to do with sprouts thats fer sure
Although, they might have been good for providing some wind.
Feck me, I've tested that theory over the last two days!

 

[OGITD]

Haven’t we all.

I've tested that theory over the last two days!

We could be in for a bit of a blow...... no smoking zone declared!

 

[oldharry]

S'obvious really, though I dont know when it became law:

Starboard or the side where the 'steer board' was located, was the steering side, so any approaching ship knew it was safe because the steersman could see them. So a green light was shown to indicate the 'safe side' of the ship. Correspondingly, to port the helmsmans view was obstructed, so a red light would be shown to warn an approaching ship it might not be seen by the steersman in time to do anything about it. Although a 'steering board' side was largely irrelevant by the time International Colregs were being drafted, the basic centuries old 'rule of the road' was not changed - i.e a vessel approaching from the 'wrong side' was still expected to give way.

 

[multihullsailor6]

As a side comment to the steering side points mentioned above, in German "starboard" is "Steuerbord" which would translate best as "steering side" -"port" being "Backbord". And the Captain's berth is always on "Steuerbord"!

 

[oldharry]

...and of course 'port side' would be the side used for loading in port, so the steering board would not get damaged against the quay.

 

[alan_d]

Yes, but we still do not have an answer for why/when red for port and green for starboard.

 

[dt4134]

As I understand it, it was Captain Fitroy (of Beagle fame) who introduced the term port into the RN. It was previously just used by the East India Co. He also used dinghy instead of jolly boat.

 

[Marmalade]

So which came first - the rhyme or the reason...

If to starboard red appear, 'tis your duty to keep clear
And do as judgement says is proper; port or starboard, back or stop her
If both lights you see ahead, there's no danger do not dread
Starboard turn and show your red
But if upon your port is seen another vessel's light that's green
There's nothing else for you to do for green to port keeps clear of you.

So was it red for "danger, take action" and green for "stand on"

 

[Little Five]

So which came first - the rhyme or the reason...

If to starboard red appear, 'tis your duty to keep clear
And do as judgement says is proper; port or starboard, back or stop her
If both lights you see ahead, there's no danger do not dread
Starboard turn and show your red
But if upon your port is seen another vessel's light that's green
There's nothing else for you to do for green to port keeps clear of you.

So was it red for "danger, take action" and green for "stand on"

Jees... by the time i have muttered through that the crisis would be upon me.
A bit like the Mayor of Hiroshima saying "What the hell was that"

 

[trapezeartist]

Short words: Left - Port - Red
Slightly longer words: Right - Starboard - Green
Seemples.

Likewise when two motor vessels converge, if you see a red light, "stop". If you see a green light, "go". (If it's daylight, imagine which light you would see.) Works for me.

 

[prr]

So which came first - the rhyme or the reason...

If to starboard red appear, 'tis your duty to keep clear
And do as judgement says is proper; port or starboard, back or stop her
If both lights you see ahead, there's no danger do not dread
Starboard turn and show your red
But if upon your port is seen another vessel's light that's green
There's nothing else for you to do for green to port keeps clear of you.

So was it red for "danger, take action" and green for "stand on"

When in danger, no room to turn.
Ease her - Stop her - Have a burn.

 

[Wandering Star]

Reading this thread I don't think anyone knows who, what or why dictated red or green everyone has gone off on a tangent avoiding the answer to your question. Personally I don't think there ever was a consensus and I think it all looks boring and samey using the same colours especially at night which is why I changed my nav lights to show purple and brown with an all round blue replacing the tricolour masthead on the basis it looks prettier and more characterful especially if I have all the lights on together.

Cheers, Brian.

 

[prr]

Call me a cynic but isnt he just trying to sell off 2X 1/3 shares in his Tupperwear.

 

[prr]

Red & Green

Its interesting though, because red & green are the two colours that are confused by people who are Colour Blind!

 

[fisherman]

When in danger, no room to turn.
Ease her - Stop her - Have a burn.

Or, for the cross-eyed helmsman;

Red to red, green to green, perfect safety, go between.

 

[Beadle]

Yes, but we still do not have an answer for why/when red for port and green for starboard.

The real reason is because most Vikings were right handed.

 

[oldharry]

The real reason is because most Vikings were right handed.

Silly me -of course thats the reason why the steering oar was to starboard. Often woindered but it never occurred to me.

So right hand on the steering oar, red light on the other side of the ship to warn others they cant be seen properly, and green light to show the side the helmsman has a clear field of view.

Did they build left handed ships for left handed helmsmen I wonder?

 

[Kukri]

According to Cockcroft and Lammerjier's "Guide to the Collision Regulations", the professional's Bible, which incidentally disagrees completely with the Wikipedia reference cited, the choice of red for port, green for starboard came from early railway signals - red for stop, green for go - and was first brought in by Trinity House in the 1840's.

I hope there is no need to explain why port is "stop"...