Navigation Lights - Not!

Those in charge of inspections and compliance directives encourage widest distribution.

The Coast Guard has recently become aware of the uninspected towing-vessel industry’s using inappropriate navigation lights that fail to meet the criteria for use onboard any vessel; SEACHOICE Products LED Navigation Light, SCP #03201.

Online research shows many outlets for the sale of this product. It is possible that this product may be in widespread use in the recreational boating industry as well.

The SEACHOICE Products and other catalogs advertise it as a "LED classic navigation light." The package indicates incorrect usage as a "masthead light."

When Web-searched, the retrieved information presents it as a "masthead" or "navigation" light. Neither of these applications is correct and the fixture should not be used on any vessel in an effort to meet the navigation rules.

Masthead lighting requires an arc of 225 degrees visibility and stern lighting requires an arc 135 degrees visibility, for a total range of 360 degrees visibility. Depending on the type of vessel, there are also light, color and range of visibility requirements.

The SEACHOICE product SCP 03201 has an arc of 180 degrees visibility and is not applicable to any requirement.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that owners/operators of any vessel who installed this particular SEACHOICE product (#03201 only) as a masthead, stern or other type of navigation light remove it and replace it with a proper light that meets the requirements for the vessel and application.

Recreational boaters who have questions should contact the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Commercial vessel owner/operators who have questions should contact the Coast Guard Sector or Marine Safety Unit.

Standards for color, intensity and arc of visibility can be found in Annex I of COLREGs or —

• 33CFR84.13 - Color specification of lights

• 33CFR84.15 - Intensity of lights

• 33CFR84.17 - Horizontal sectors

• 33CFR84.19 - Vertical sectors

Special thanks to Coast Guard Sector Detroit for identifying this issue.

This document is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational or material requirement. Developed by the Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis, United States Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC.

For more related casualty and safety information access http://marineinvestigations.us

Author Bio

Ed Huntsman, Boating Editor

Recreational boating safety Program Manager, United States Coast Guard, Eighth Coast Guard District. - Retired