N.Y. Navigation Law § 43: Lights to be displayed

§ 43. Lights to be displayed. 1. Vessels classified. For the

application of this section vessels shall be divided into classes as

follows:

Class A. Less than sixteen feet in length.

Class 1. Sixteen feet or over and less than twenty-six feet in length.

Class 2. Twenty-six feet or over and less than forty feet in length.

Class 3. Forty feet or over and not more than sixty-five feet in

length.

Class 4. Over sixty-five feet in length.

Class 5. Rowboats, canoes and kayaks.

2. Every vessel in all weathers from sunset to sunrise shall carry and

exhibit and, if carried, shall also exhibit from sunrise to sunset in

restricted visibility, and may exhibit in all other circumstances when

it is deemed necessary, the following lights when under way, and during

such times no other lights which may be mistaken for those prescribed

shall be exhibited:

(a) Every vessel of classes A and one shall carry the following

lights:

First. A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon.

Second. A combined lantern in the fore part of the vessel and lower

than the white light aft, showing green to starboard and red to port, so

fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the

beam on their respective sides.

(b) Every vessel of classes two and three shall carry the following

lights:

First. A bright white light in the fore part of the vessel as near the

stem as practicable, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an

arc of the horizon of twenty points of the compass, so fixed as to throw

the light ten points on each side of the vessel; namely, from right

ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side.

Second. A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon and

higher than the white light forward.

Third. On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show

an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the

compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points

abaft the beam on the starboard side. On the port side a red light so

constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of

ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right

ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side. The said side

lights shall be fitted with inboard screens of sufficient height so set

as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

(c) Every vessel of class four shall carry the following lights:

First. On or in front of the foremast, or, if a vessel without a

foremast, then in the fore part of the vessel, a bright white light so

constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of

twenty points of the compass, so fixed as to throw light ten points on

each side of the vessel, namely from right ahead to two points abaft the

beam on either side, and of such character as to be visible at a

distance of at least five miles.

Second. An additional after white light carried at an elevation at

least fifteen feet above the light at the head of the vessel and to show

all around the horizon.

Third. On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show

an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the

compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points

abaft the beam on the starboard side. On the port side a red light so

constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of

ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right

ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side. The said side

lights shall be fitted with inboard screens of sufficient height so set

as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

(d) Rowboats, canoes and kayaks, whether under oars or sail, shall

have ready at hand a lantern showing a white light which shall be

temporarily exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

(e) Vessels of classes A and one when propelled by sail alone shall

carry the combined lantern, but not the white light aft, prescribed by

this section. Vessels of classes two and three, when so propelled, shall

carry the colored side lights, suitably screened, but not the white

lights, prescribed by this section. Vessels of all classes, when so

propelled, shall carry, ready at hand, a lantern or flashlight showing a

white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to avert

collision.

(f) When propelled by sail and machinery any vessel shall carry the

lights required by this section for a vessel propelled by machinery

only.

(g) Any vessel may carry and exhibit the lights required by the

federal regulations for preventing collisions at sea, nineteen hundred

forty-eight, act of October eleventh, nineteen hundred fifty-one, as

amended, in lieu of the lights required by this section.

(h) A mechanically propelled vessel when towing another vessel shall,

in addition to her side lights, carry two bright white lights in a

vertical line one over the other, not less than three feet apart.

(i) A vessel under one hundred fifty feet in length when at anchor

shall carry forward, where it can best be seen, but at a height not

exceeding twenty feet above the hull, a white light in a lantern so

constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light visible all

around the horizon at a distance of at least one mile: provided that the

commissioner may, after investigation, by rule, regulation, or order,

designate such areas as he may deem proper as "special anchorage areas";

such special anchorage areas may from time to time be changed, or

abolished, if after investigation the commissioner shall deem such

change or abolishment in the interest of navigation: provided further

that vessels not more than sixty-five feet in length when at anchor in

any such special anchorage area shall not be required to carry or

exhibit the white light required by this subdivision. A vessel of one

hundred fifty feet or upward in length, when at anchor, shall carry in

the forward part of the vessel, at a height of not less than twenty feet

and not exceeding forty feet above the hull, one such light, and at or

near the stern of the vessel, and at such a height that it shall be not

less than fifteen feet lower than the forward light, another such light.

(j) Every white light prescribed by this section shall be of such

character as to be visible at a distance of at least two miles except as

otherwise provided. Every colored light prescribed by this section shall

be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least one mile

except as otherwise provided. The word "visible" in this section when

applied to lights, shall mean visible on a dark night with clear

atmosphere.

(k) A revolving blue light may only be carried or exhibited on

enforcement vessels owned or operated by the state of New York or a

political subdivision thereof.

(l) For the purposes of this section, the term "restricted visibility"

shall mean any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist,

falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes;

3. Should the federal government adopt vessel light requirements

different from those contained in this section, the commissioner shall

be authorized to adopt rules and regulations superseding the vessel

light requirements of this section to achieve consistency with federal

standards, and shall submit such proposed rules and regulations to the

secretary of state in accordance with the state administrative procedure

act within thirty days of the adoption of federal equipment requirements

or submit a statement as to why such conforming changes are not being

proposed.

4. A violation of any provision of this section, or of a rule or

regulation adopted pursuant to subdivision three of this section, shall

constitute a violation punishable by a fine of not less than twenty-five

nor more than one hundred dollars.