Boat navigation lights rules and requirements at night Requirements in Canada

Powerboats navigation lights at night

navigation lights

Properly lit sailboat at night

properly lit sailboat at night

Commercial boats navigation lights at night

navigation lights fishing boat

Powerboats navigation lights at night

Navigation lights for powerboats less than 12 meters (39,4") in length

A power driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length, and underway, may display, from sunset to sunrise:

Navigation lights for boats

Navigation lights for powerboats of 12 meters (39,4") and over in length

A power driven vessel of 12 meters and over in length, and underway, may display, from sunset to sunrise:

Navigation lights for powerboats of 12 meters (39,4

Navigation lights for powerboats at anchor

At anchor, the operator of a pleasure craft shall display, from sunset to sunrise, in the fore part, an all-round light. A powerboat anchored at night must display an all-round light.

Navigation lights for powerboats at anchor

What is a properly lit sailboat at night?

Navigation lights for sailboats under 7 m (23’)

and underway, may display, from sunset to sunrise:

OR

  • 1 lantern, combining the sidelights and stern light above.

OR

  • 1 white-lighted electric torch or lantern that you must use far enough ahead of time to avoid a collision.

     

Navigation lights for sailboats under 7 m (23’)

Navigation lights for sailboats from 7 m (23’) to under 20 m (65’7”)

OR

  • 1 lantern, combining the sidelights and stern light above

Option 1

Navigation lights for sailboats from 7 m (23’) to under 20 m (65’7”)

Option 2

Navigation lights for sailboats from 7 m (23’) to under 20 m (65’7”)

Option 3

properly lit sailboat at night

Optional - A sailing vessel may exhibit at or near the top of the mast, two all-round lights in a vertical line: the upper one red and the lower one green. These lights are shown along with the sidelights and sternlight.

Navigation lights for sailboats 20 m (65’7”) and over

Option 1

Navigation lights for sailboats 20 m (65’7”) and over

Option 2

Navigation lights for sailboats 20 m (65’7”) and over

Optional - A sailing vessel may exhibit at or near the top of the mast, two all-round lights in a vertical line: the upper one red and the lower one green. These lights are shown along with the sidelights and sternlight.

Navigation lights for sailboats operating under motor power

Sailboats are considered powerboats when they have the engines on - even if the sails are up. 

Navigation lights for sailboats at anchor

At anchor, the operator of a pleasure craft shall display, from sunset to sunrise, in the fore part, an all-round light. A powerboat anchored at night must display an all-round light.

Navigation lights for sailboats operating under motor power

Navigation lights for kayak or canoe (human-powered vessels) at night

Navigation lights are also required for human-powered vessels (canoe, kayak) or for a sailing pleasure craft of less than 7 meters in length not under power. When underway, the operator shall, from sunset to sunrise, display, if practical, sidelights and a stern light, but if the operator cannot, he/she must have at hand, a flashlight or lighted lantern emitting a white light which must be lit in enough time to prevent a collision.

Navigation lights for kayak or canoe (human-powered vessels)

Commercial boats navigation lights at night

Navigation lights for a vessel engaged in fishing 

Navigation lights for ships engaged in fishing 

Navigation lights for a vessel engaged in trawling

A vessel when engaged in trawling, which means dragging a dredge net or other fishing apparatus through the water, shall display:

  • Two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower white. When making way through the water,

  • Sidelights and 

  • Sternlight.

Navigation lights for a vessel engaged in trawling

Navigation lights for a government vessel (Police boat)

Any government vessel or any vessel that is owned or operated by a harbor, river, county or municipal police force may display a blue flashing light to identify itself as such, in the following cases

  • When it is providing assistance in any waters to any vessel or other craft;

  • When it is engaged in law enforcement duties in Canadian waters.

navigation-lights-police-iso-hr

Navigation lights for a power-driven vessel when towing

navigation lights tug boat less than 200m
navigation lights tug boat more than 200m

Power-driven vessel when towing shall show sidelights, a sternlight, and a towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight, and two masthead lights in a vertical line. When the length of the tow, measuring from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the tow exceeds 200 meters, three such lights in a vertical line shall be displayed.

Apart from the regular navigation lights, when a boat tows another vessel in distress or in need of assistance for any reason, shall take all possible measures to show the relation between the towed vessel and the vessel doing the towing. A vessel towing must try to shine a light on the towing cable to make it as visible as possible, so that other boats do not come into contact with the cable.

A vessel being tow shall display sidelights and a sternlight. If it is not possible, it must display one all-around white light at each of the fore and aft ends.  

Navigation lights for a power-driven vessel pushing another

A power-driven vessel, when pushing another, shall display the sidelights, a sternlight, and two superimposed masthead lights. 

The vessel being pushed, and not part of a composite unit, must display its sidelights at the bow. When a vessel is pushing another, if both are connected in a rigid, composite unit, they will be regarded as one unit, thus showing the appropriate lights.

Navigation lights Examples

Sailing vessel seen from starboard side

Sailing vessel seen from starboard side

Sailing vessel seen from the front

Sailing vessel seen from the front

Power-driven vessel anchored

Power-driven vessel anchored

Power-driven vessel seen from starboard side

Power-driven vessel seen from starboard side

Power-driven vessel seen from port side

Power-driven vessel seen from port side

Power-driven vessel seen from the stern (back)

Power-driven vessel seen from the stern (back)

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