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FAST FACTS

Red Light, Green Light

By: KATHERINE CLEMENTS

UNITED STATES— Those lights at the bow of the boat aren’t just Christmas decorations, they play a very important role on a boat.

In 1838, The United States passed the Admiralty Law, also known as the maritime law, which is a combination of U.S. and international laws. Under this law it is required that steamboats operating between sunset and sunrise must carry one or more signal lights; color, visibility, and location were not specified. The consideration of the law came after numerous vessels crashing due to weak visibility of one another during hindered lighting.

In 1846, the United Kingdom passed legislation that allowed Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom (the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy) to publish regulations that required all sea-going steam vessels carry lights.

In 1848, the admiralty exercised these powers and finalized the requirement of displaying red and green sidelights as well as the white masthead light above, and the all-around white light when anchored, as confirmed by maritime attorney, David Weil. Today, navigational lights aboard ships are determined by the International Maritime Organization. They have established a criterion for light requirements based on the size and make of the vessel.

The red and green lights are called navigation lights and they help other boaters determine which vessel needs to give the right-of-way when crossing paths in the dark. These navigation lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise, or when visibility is restricted out on the water.

The red and green lights are one of four important navigation lights on a boat, and they are also called side lights. Side lights must be visible to other boaters on either side of the vessel, which allows the other boater to determine if the vessels are approaching each other head-on. The red light indicates a vessel’s port side, which is the left side, and the green light indicates the vessel’s starboard side, which is the right side. These lights help vessels pass each other safely when daylight is not an option.

Other navigation lights include the sternlight, a white light seen only from behind or close behind a vessel; the masthead light which is a white light the shines forward on both sides of the vessel. Masthead lights are a requirement on any power-driven boat. Absence of this light would indicate to other boaters that that vessel is a sailing vessel. The last navigation light is the all-round white light. This light is required on boats powered by an engine that are less than 39.4 feet and serves as an anchor light when sidelights (such as the red and green lights) are extinguished.

These sidelights can also be referred to as combination lights. The red light is always port side, and green is always on the starboard side of the vessel.

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Letters/ Online Comments

RE: How Pacific Oysters are Saving the San Diego Bay

(DEC. 24, 2021-JAN. 6, 2022)

“Great & inspired action between agencies – thank you & would love to learn more! Would love to do something similar for our local wetlands.”

—Dee Diane Wells Wood

RE: It’s Been Two Years: What’s up with the San Onofre Nuclear Plant?

(DEC. 24, 2021-JAN. 6, 2022)

“A very thorough article.”

—P. Matheis

On Board With Johnson by J.R. Johnson Reader Q&A

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

RE: California Boater Card: Don’t get behind

the wheel (of a boat)

without it (April 2017)

QI’m visiting my uncle from California, and I currently live in South Carolina. I’ve taken the course and received my boating license in South Carolina. Would my card be valid in California?

AIn 2014, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 941, which requires boaters who operate motorized vessels in California to have a valid operator card issued by the Division of Boating and Waterways.

The California Boater Card shows that the holder successfully took an approved boating safety course and passed the corresponding exam. The requirement for the card began to roll out in 2018 with anyone 16 to 20 years old, and it is expected that every age demographic will need a card by 2025.

This is a rule for California residents who own and operate boats in state waters, including Lake Havasu, Lake Tahoe, and the Colorado River, even though they are considered state-shared waterways. For out-of-state visitors, they can operate a boat in California waters if they are operating the vessel for less than 60 days and have met their state’s requirements. “Under Harbors & Navigation code 678.11(c)(1) (A), a person who is a resident of a state other than California who is temporarily operating a vessel in California for less than 60 days and meets the boating requirements, if any, of his/her state, does not need a California Boater Card,” said Adeline Yee, informational offi cer for California State Parks in a Jan. 5 email.

RE: Dates Announced for 2022 Sailing Convention for Women

(MAY 28-JUNE 10, 2021)

QHow do I sign up?? A Interested parties can sign up on the Sailing