Nautical Term: Side lights
Definition of Side lights
Side lights refer to the pair of red and green running lights that are positioned on the port and starboard sides of a vessel that is underway. These lights help to indicate the vessel’s direction and position to other vessels and to navigators on the shore.
For instance, suppose a cargo ship is sailing towards a busy harbor during the night. To ensure the safety of the ship and its crew, as well as other vessels and navigators in the area, the cargo ship’s master turns on the vessel’s side lights. These lights emit a steady red glow on the port side and a steady green glow on the starboard side. These side lights help to make the cargo ship more visible to other vessels and navigators in the area, thereby reducing the risk of collisions and other maritime accidents.
Explore other nautical terms: