As the nights warm up and more boaties head out after dark, officers from the Gladstone Water Police are finding increasing numbers of boats that are not displaying the correct lights for their type of vessel.
A common misconception is the incorrect use of what is commonly referred to as an ‘anchor light’.
With only a few exceptions, most recreational powerboats or personal watercraft on the water at night must display an all-round white light whether they are underway or at anchor.
Too often Water Police speak with boaties who are under the misconception that they only have to switch on their ‘anchor light’ while at anchor, but in fact the all-round white light must be on at all times while they are on the water at night.
It is only the red and green side lights that get switched off while at anchor.
With Queensland being home to more than 250,000 registered recreational vessels and some of the busiest waterways in the country, Water Police officers are concerned that a lack of understanding about navigation lights is putting many boaties at risk.
Many people think they are doing the right thing but have neglected to educate themselves on the importance of displaying all the correct lights on their boats at night.
The reality is that without an all-round white light being displayed in a way that can be seen from every direction, a small boat is virtually invisible on the water and is vulnerable to being run into by other vessels.
Obviously, the results of a vessel crash at night can be disastrous.
In addition to the risks of collision, there are also penalties for failing to have the correct navigation lights displayed between sunset and sunrise.
So this weekend, why not take a few moments to check that your navigation lights are operating and that they comply with regulations.
- Check that your red, green, steaming and anchor lights are operating.
- Ensure that the lens of each light is clean and not opaque.
- Make sure your navigation lights are visible as per the arc diagram below.
- Are there spare light bulbs onboard your vessel that suit each nav light?
The QPS recommends that you refer to the Navigation Lights Factsheet from Maritime Safety Queensland Navigation lights factsheet (mcusercontent.com) or head over to the MSQ Website for further tips on boating safety.
In Queensland, if you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000
or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
