The legal operating speed for a vessel between sunset and sunrise is typically governed by local regulations or the rules of the waterway. In general, vessels are often required to operate at a safe speed that allows them to stop or take necessary action to avoid a collision. It's important to follow the specific regulations of the area where you are operating the vessel.
Vessels must have proper navigation lights on board when operating between sunset and sunrise to ensure visibility and avoid collisions with other vessels. These lights include red, green, and white lights that signal the vessel's position, direction of travel, and status. It is important for vessels to adhere to these regulations to promote safe navigation at night.
Vessels operating away from the dock between sunset and sunrise must have navigation lights, sound-producing devices (such as a whistle or horn), and radar or radio equipment for communication and navigation. These devices help ensure the safety of the vessel and others in low-visibility conditions.
All round white light
A white mast light indicates that a given vessel is resting at anchor.
In Canada, under the Small Vessel Regulations, you may not tow from one hour after sunset until sunrise.
Power-driven vessels less than 656 feet (20 meters) long must exhibit both a red light and a green light when underway between sunset and sunrise, in addition to the all-round white light. The red light should be on the vessel's port side, and the green light should be on the vessel's starboard side.
Power-driven vessels less than 65.6 feet long must exhibit a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side, in addition to an all-around white light, when underway between sunset and sunrise. These lights help other vessels determine the direction the vessel is moving and avoid collisions at night.
Any vessel over 7 meters is required to show Navigation lights between sunset to sunrise and in any times of restricted visibility. See Rule 20, Application. For a full list of Navigation Rules, see the link below.
An anchor light. Which is a white all round light, that is a light that can be seen for 360 degrees and visible for 1, 2 or 3 nautical miles, depending on the length of the vessel.
The characteristics of navigation lights on a power driven vessel includes sidelights, sternlight, masthead light, and all-round white lights. Navigation lights must be displayed from sunset until sunrise as well as anytime visibility is restricted.
Steer into the wind.
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