Turn off your blinding light bars, water safety watchdog warns

“We see lots of boaters using light bars - make sure you know how and when you're allowed to use them,” Maritime Safety Victoria said in a statement posted on social media.

According to MSV, vessels can only use extra lighting when it does not interfere with the recognition of navigation lights, it does not blind, other boaters and it does not obstruct visibility of navigational aids.

“Think about how much you need to use an LED light bar,” MSV said.

“Illuminating your deck may help while you are fishing, but having a bright forward-facing light on all night can hamper the safety of you and other boaters.”

Lights are used in marine navigation to identify the type of vessel, what it is doing, and the direction in which it is travelling.

Under the Maritime Safety Act, boats that are less than 12 metres in length and faster than 7.0 knots must show masthead lights, a stern light and a side light, or an all-around white light.

If the boat’s maximum speed is slower than 7.0 knots, it can show an all-around white light.

However, when anchored a boat must show an all-around white light. If the boat is drifting with the wind and current and not anchored, it must show all its navigation lights.

If you happen to run aground, the Marine Safety Act says a boat measuring less than 12 metres in length does not have to light up its anchor light unless it is in an area where it is likely to be a hazard to other boats, such as in a shipping lane or a narrow channel.

If you own a sailboat measuring less than 20 metres, you will need to show side lights and a stern light while underway. 

This can either be a tri-lantern mounted at or near the top of the mast, or stern and side lights. Sail boats using the stern and side lights can also optionally choose to use two all-around stacked lights – the top one red and the bottom one green – mounted on the mast top for an extra level of visibility.

Small dinghies, kayaks or rowboats can carry a torch or lantern to alert other boats on the water; the former one by shining a light on the sail and the latter two by manually alerting the approaching boat.

Note that it does not need to be dark before a skipper makes the call to turn on the boat’s navigation lights. 

Under the rules, a boat’s navigation lights must be used any time there is reduced visibility, which can include rain, cloud cover and even bushfire smoke.