Signal Light
noun
Definition of Signal Light
A signal light, also known as a navigation light, is used to show the size of a ship, the direction it’s navigating towards, and whether it’s sailing or anchored.
Signal lights ensure safety on the water at night by increasing the visibility of boats and providing the locational information to enable them to adopt avoidance measures, preventing collisions.
In the table below we break down types of marine signal lights and their requirements:
| Light Type | Nautical Mile Visibility | Angle Of Visibility | Color | |
 |
Masthead light | 2-3 | 225° | White |
 |
Sidelight | 1-2 | 112.5° | Green or Red |
 |
Stern light | 2 | 135° | White |
 |
All-round light | 3-5 | 360° | White |
Example of Signal Light in a Sentence
"The U.S. Coast Guard issued a safety alert warning operators against the use of unapproved signal lights since they may not have the proper light intensity and cut-off angles."
Synonyms: navigation light
Related Terms for Signal Light