What is a navigation light?

A navigation light is specifically designed to indicate the position and orientation of a boat at night or in low-visibility conditions. These lights play a crucial role in maritime safety by allowing other vessels to see the location and movement of a boat, thereby preventing collisions. Different colors and configurations of navigation lights convey important information; for example, a red light indicates the port side, and a green light signifies the starboard side.

While decorative lights enhance the appearance of a vessel, they do not serve the critical function of navigation. Similarly, lights that indicate a boat's speed or are meant solely for daytime visibility do not fulfill the primary purpose of navigation lights, which is to communicate a vessel's position and intentions to other boaters in all visibility conditions.