Coastal Safety's video: Quick guide - Learn basic 3 vessel navigation lights sidelights and stern lts www coastalsafety com

This is a VERY SIMPLIFIED "how to" learn the basic 3 vessel navigation lights" Most vessels will display these three lights when "underway" - that means not attached to the shore with ropes, chains or touching the seabed. Small sailing vessels often display these three lights in a combined lantern at the top of the mast. The advantage is that there is only one light bulb needed which saves on electricity. The red and green "lights" are shown by passing through a coloured filter. Small motor boats are called "power driven vessels" and often show the two sidelights (red and green) as a combined lantern on the bow. Small motor boats often show the forward facing white light and the after facing stern light in a combined lantern also. The all round white light created by combining the forward "mast light" and the stern light, can be used for small vessels as the "anchor" light and is often labelled on the dashboard as such. On some small motor boats, this combined white light may be in the form of a detachable post with an all round 360° white light on the top. The electric connection is part of the base of the port or "mast". So, some knowledge of the lights is required - to show the correct lights as required by international marine law. Subscribe for free on our "youtube.com/coastalsafety" channel for more videos in this series. There is a useful section on our website under "how to" www.coastalsafety.com