Light Your Way To Safety

Professional mariners and knowledgeable boaters know the importance of the navigation lights displayed on their vessel. Just like for vehicles on our roadways, there are rules that apply to the lights that must be displayed by boats, during periods of darkness and periods of restricted visibility, and rules on who has the right of way and under what circumstances.

These lights provide critical information to the operators of other vessels when they see you. Depending on the lights required to be displayed on your boat based on its length and type of propulsion, the information that these lights provide to others can tell them whether you are at anchor or underway or engaged in some other activity, whether you are a power-driven vessel or not, what your heading is, etc. Other vessels around you make collision avoidance decisions based on the information available to them, that's why it is so important that the information your navigation lights are giving them is the correct information.

If you are caught by the police not showing lights or showing improper lights, you will likely be fined. Worse yet, if the information your navigation lights are providing is incorrect and an accident occurs as a result of this, there could be serious repercussions. This would be even worse if the accident involves death or injury to persons and is followed by an enquiry or is the subject of court proceedings. There could be serious implications for you from the civil liability standpoint, especially if you are found to have been negligent. You may want to discuss such potential implications with your insurance agent.

The Collision Regulations of the Canada Shipping Act establish the requirements for the navigation lights to be displayed by vessels in Canadian waters. The Safe Boating Guide, published by the Office of Boating Safety, offers complementary information on this subject including graphic illustrations.

Please visit our Acts, Regulations & Standards to view the Collision Regulations.

You can obtain a copy of the Safe Boating Guide free by calling 1 (800) 267-6687 and you can also go to the electronic version of the guide on our web site at the following address: http://www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSafety/TP/TP511/menu.htm

There are also other ways to get help. If you happen to know knowledgeable boaters, professional mariners or members of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, they can provide some guidance. You can also contact boating organisations and organisations that provide marine or boater training as well as boat dealerships.

No matter what, protect yourself and others and make sure your lights are the right ones and that they work properly.