Visibility of Lights.
The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in Section 8 of Annex I to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges:
(a) In vessels of 50 metres or more in length:
a masthead light, 6 miles;
a sidelight, 3 miles;
a towing light, 3 miles;
a white red, green or yellow all-around light, 3 miles.
(b) In vessels of 12 metres or more in length but less than 50 meters in length;
a masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 metres, 3 miles;
a sidelight, 2 miles;
a sternlight, 2 miles, A towing light, 2 miles;
a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
(c) In vessels of less than 12 metres in length:
a masthead light, 2 miles;
a sidelight, 1 miles;
a towing light, 2 miles;
a white red, green or yellow all-around light, 2 miles.
(d) In inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed;
a white all-round light; 3 miles.
VISIBILITY OF LIGHTS
The above rule is self-explanatory and needs little further amplification. However, it must be asked why a minimum range has been specified for navigation lights. Apart from the most obvious reason that, if they were not, most shipping companies would probably still be issuing candles for navigation lights, the minimum ranges also help determine when a risk of collision can be deemed to exist. In the Oral examination, the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) take the view that a risk of collision cannot be deemed to exist outside the minimum range of a vessel’s navigation lights. However, this would depend on what type of vessels are involved and their respective manoeuvring and handling characteristics.
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