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Nighttime Navigation
Includes: Lights and Encountering Vessels at Night
Always be on the lookout for lights of other vessels when boating at night. Several types of lights serve as navigational aids at night. They are:
Sidelights: These red and green lights are called sidelights (or combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the side or head-on. The red light indicates a vessel's port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel's starboard (right) side.
Sternlight: A white light seen from behind the vessel.
Masthead Light: A white light, which shines forward, located on the mast of a sailboat and required on all powerboats. A masthead light must be used by all vessels when under engine power. The absence of this light identifies a sailboat under sail.
All-Round White Light: On powerboats less than 39.4 feet in length, this light may be used to combine a masthead and sternlight into a single white light visible in 360 degrees. When sidelights are extinguished, this light serves as an anchor light.