Wash. Admin. Code § 352-66-160 - Light characteristics
(1) Lights on aids
to navigation are differentiated by color and rhythm. Lighthouses and range
lights may display distinctive light characteristics to facilitate recognition.
No special significance should be attached to the color or rhythm of such
lights. Other lighted aids to navigation employ light characteristics to convey
additional information.
(2) When
proceeding in the conventional direction of buoyage, aids to navigation, if
lighted, display light characteristics as follows:
(a) Green lights mark port (left) sides of
channels and locations of wrecks or obstructions which are to be passed by
keeping these lights on the port (left) hand of a vessel . Green lights are also
used on preferred channel marks where the topmost band is green.
(b) Red lights mark starboard (right) sides
of channels and locations of wrecks or obstructions which are to be passed by
keeping these lights on the starboard (right) hand of a vessel . Red lights are
also used on preferred channel marks where the topmost band is
red.
(3) The purpose of
aids exhibiting white or yellow lights may be determined by their shape, color,
letters or numbers, and the light rhythm employed.
(4) Light rhythms, are employed as follows:
(a) Aids with lateral significance display
regularly flashing or regularly occulting light rhythms. Ordinarily, flashing
lights (frequency not exceeding thirty flashes per minute) will be
used.
(b) Preferred channel marks
display a composite group flashing light rhythm (groups of two flashes followed
by one flash).
(c) Safe water marks
display a white morse code "A" rhythm (short-long flash).
(d) Isolated danger marks display a white
group flashing two.
(e) Special
marks display yellow lights with fixed or slow flashing rhythm
preferred.
(f) Mooring buoys and
information and regulatory marks display white lights of various
rhythms.
(g) For situations where
lights require a distinct cautionary significance, as at sharp turns, sudden
channel constrictions, wrecks, or obstructions, a quick flashing light rhythm
(sixty flashes per minute) may be used.
(h) Occasionally lights use sectors to mark
shoals or warn mariners of other dangers. Lights so equipped show one color
from most directions and a different color or colors over definite arcs of the
horizon as indicated on the appropriate nautical chart. These sectors provide
approximate bearing information since the observer should note a change of
color as the boundary between the sectors is crossed. As sector bearings are
not precise, they should be considered a warning only and not used to determine
exact bearing to the light.
Notes
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