Sale of Masthead Lights for Yacht
Marketplace topRik presents a catalog with prices for navigation masthead lights with different technical characteristics for installation on sailing and motor yachts and boats. We offer models from the world's best manufacturers of navigation lights – DHR, Hella Marine, Aqua Signal, Plastimo etc.
The latest generation of mast lights with Rina certificate, which our marketplace offers, means your safety on the water. Our experts will give you professional free consultations right now by phone, via the website’s Contacts section or by email ([email protected]).
Types of Mast Navigation Lights
Mast lights, which perform various functions during movement, have certain requirements. Meeting these requirements largely depends on the characteristics of the lamps used. In particular, brightness is an important criterion of masthead lights, which must provide the visibility established by maritime regulations for boats of various sizes and designs, as well as depending on the condition and position of the watercraft.
In addition, manufacturers of navigation lights are constantly improving not only their basic characteristics related to the quality of lighting, but also the level of protection from the effects of aggressive marine environments - water, salt, ultraviolet radiation. But the level of energy consumption of new models has been significantly reduced. For example, LED mast lights are more energy efficient. Although they are more expensive compared to traditional mast lights, they have a longer service life.
LED models have become popular due to numerous advantages:
- the yacht becomes more visible to oncoming ships, but does not blind them;
- longer service life;
- less power consumption;
- sealed design with a high degree of protection;
- resistance to mechanical stress;
- resistant to seawater, sunlight, corrosion thanks to the use of marine plastics and anodized metals or stainless steel.
But we do not recommend changing incandescent lamps to LEDs in your mast lights yourself. The designs are designed as a single unit by the manufacturer and simply replacing a lamp does not mean the new combination will meet the requirements.
Installation Requirements
In accordance with the requirements of international organizations whose responsibilities include regulating the safety of participants in sea and river navigation, when darkness falls on ships, they are required to turn on several types of lights that relate to masthead lights. The requirements for the installation of mast lights on the mast(s) and the distance at which they must be visible to navigation participants are usually specified.
Top Light
Refers to the main navigation lights that must be turned on on a ship. The masthead light is white and is turned on at the foremast. Installation rules require it to be located at a height of 6 to 12.2 meters so that it is visible to all ships traveling from this ship at a distance of at least 5 nautical miles.
Second Masthead Light
It is switched on on the main masts of large sea liners; it is located below the first one at a distance of at least 4.5 meters.
A white masthead light at the bow of the vessel on the forwardmost mast and a second masthead light at the stern. Both lights shine forward at 225°, i.e. from the centerline of the vessel in each direction at 112.5°. They must be visible at a distance of at least 5 nautical miles (9.26 km). The forward masthead light is 6.10 m above the ship's hull (main deck), the rear one is 4.60 m above the forward one. In any case, the masthead lights are positioned higher than all other lights and superstructures. Their distance from each other horizontally is three times greater than vertically. Small craft less than 45.75 m in length generally have only a forward white masthead light.
Taillight Navigation Light
White, lit on the bilge, designed to illuminate the entire horizon, must be visible to all passing ships at a distance of at least 2 miles.
It should be noted that the listed ship lights (together with sidelights, which are not mast lights and therefore are not mentioned here) are required to be carried by all power-driven vessels. On sailing ships, only the side and masthead lights are required to be turned on at night.
Lights for Towing, Performing Special Work
A special category of ships on which additional ship lights must be turned on include tugboats and the vessels they tow.
The captain of a tugboat with a mechanical engine is required to turn on the starboard and port lights, the tail light and two masthead lights on the foremast, the distance between which will not exceed 2 meters.
Taillight navigation light - white, lights up on the tailplane, designed to illuminate the entire horizon.
In the event that a tug is pulling more than 2 ships, 3 masthead lights on the foremast must be turned on at the same time, and the distance between them should not be less than 1.83 meters.
The foremast of a ship, deprived of steering, with a broken rudder and a stalled engine, should carry two red lights, the brightness of which should be sufficient to be visible at a distance of 2 miles. If such a vessel is underway, then in addition to the mentioned lights, the side lights must also be turned on. During daylight hours, two black balls must be raised on such a ship, located at a distance of 1.83 meters from each other, and the size of each ball cannot be less than 0.63 meters. The listed identification marks mean that the ship cannot give way, therefore oncoming ships are required to bypass it.
In the case when a cable is being laid at sea, the vessels performing this work are required to light three lights on their foremast: the first and third must be red, the second and, accordingly, the middle one must be white. The lights must be visible two miles forward and backward, in addition to which side lights can be added, but only if the ship is under its own power. During the day, the lights on the cable-laying vessel are replaced by two red balls and a white diamond.
At Anchor and Aground
A vessel at anchor is required to display a white headstay light on the forestay or on the mainstay, and also light a white lanyard light. Visibility of both lights must be at least 2 miles.
A boat that has run aground is required to display the headstay and gantry lights, as well as two red lights on the foremast.
Marine Navigation Lights
A pilot ship under sail and performing judicial duties must turn on a white light on the foremast, which must be visible for at least 3 miles and illuminate the entire horizon with its light. Such a fire cannot be constant; it must blink every 10 minutes.
A pilot ship cannot carry any other identification lights, except for those cases when it is approaching another ship and, according to the rules, is required to turn on its side lights.
Vessels engaged in fishing may carry both side and masthead lights, depending on their size and rigging.
On minesweepers, the masthead lights are replaced by a three-color lamp - white, red and green; also on a minesweeper, a white light must be turned on at night.
Small vessels carry the same lights as larger ones, but at a lower altitude.
Ships experiencing radio communication difficulties may use additional signal lights in the form of flashing lights and sea torches, unless these signals may be mistaken for distress signals.
Installation of navigation lights must be carried out in full compliance with the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Therefore, both the installation and connection of mast lights should be carried out by certified companies if there are no navigation lights on the purchased yacht or for any reason their replacement (repair) is required.
Of course, if the crew has an appropriate specialist with experience and installation tools, mast lights can be installed on your own. Moreover, if in our marketplace you buy a model with a lamp body that is attached to the base using clips and does not require screws. Lamps in such masthead lights are hung vertically and contacts are located at the top of each light to prevent corrosion.
International Rules of Navigation
In 1972, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved a new edition of maritime regulations regarding safety during the movement of ships.
Thus, the use of mast navigation lights on ships is regulated by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG-72, or the Rules), as well as the Rules for the Navigation of Vessels on Inland Waterways, which are compiled for each region. Both sets of Rules are almost identical, and their compliance is mandatory for all participants in sea or river navigation.
Mast navigation lights are required by the Rules to be displayed from sunrise to sunset, as well as during daylight hours in conditions of limited visibility.
IMO regulations also apply to:
- vertical arrangement of lights and distances between them;
- horizontal arrangement of lights and distances between them;
- location of information and indicator lights and signs on fishing vessels and vessels engaged in dredging or underwater work;
- color characteristics of lights;
- luminous intensity of lights, etc.
Compliance with COLREG-72 standards is mandatory for all participants in navigation both at sea and on inland waterways. This also applies to the location, brightness and color characteristics of navigation masthead lights.