Since Columbus created the "Great Voyage", the modern shipping industry has become increasingly prosperous。With the increasing number of various types of ships sailing on the same route, the topic of maritime navigation traffic safety has become more and more prominent。To prevent collisions between ships at sea，The 1972 International Convention on the Rules of Circumvention at Sea was established by the International Maritime Organization.，Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)。These are the rules of water traffic for the high seas and all navigable waters connected to the high seas。

International Maritime Organization，The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a United Nations agency，An agency primarily responsible for the safety of maritime navigation and the safety of the Marine environment，There are currently 170 full members，It is the bridge and bond of inter-governmental maritime consultation。

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The International Convention on the Rules of Circumvention at Sea (COLREGS) has been amended since 1972，Although it has undergone several revisions and improvements，But the big picture hasn't changed，It specifies in detail the interpretation of various terms relating to the navigation of ships，The installation position and color of the signal light, signal type and sound signal suspended by different types of ships under different sailing conditions are specified clearly。

China is a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), having agreed to and followed its rules since 1957。

Night ship, no light, like a blind man and a horse in the abyss。

The standard light given by COLREGS is the "Mandarin" in ship navigation, which is the light language for ships to identify and communicate with each other. With it, there is order in the sea night voyage。But the name of the light, perhaps translated into "navigation light" may be better, after all, its real purpose is to guide the ship safe navigation。Because COLREGS used only "Light" in the original English text, the word puzzled the original translator。The translation of the lamp is literary, but in the Chinese context it generally expresses a sound, and the lamp is easy to be misunderstood as a sound lamp, but the name has been used for many years, we have to use this name。

First, the type of light

Chinese name	English name	描述
桅灯	Masthead light	Specified white lights placed above the ship's fore and aft centerlines display uninterrupted light in a horizontal arc of 225 degrees
舷灯	Sidelights	Green on starboard and red on port at 112.Continuous light is displayed in a horizontal arc of 5 degrees。For ships less than 20m in length, the side lights can be combined into a single light and installed on the fore and aft center lines of the ship。
尾灯	Stern light	The white lights, positioned as close as possible to the stern, display uninterrupted light in a 135 degree horizontal arc。
Towing light	Towing light	A yellow light having the same characteristics as a taillight。
All-round light	All round light	A light that displays an uninterrupted light in a 360 degree horizontal arc。
Flash lamp	Flashing light	A signal light with a frequency of 120 or more times per minute at regular intervals。

Second, visibility requirements

Length of ship	visibility
Length of ship	桅灯	舷灯	尾灯	Towing light	Ring light (white, red, green, yellow)
Ships with a length of 50m or more	6海里	3海里	3海里	3海里	3海里
Vessels with a length of 12m or more but less than 50m	5海里	2海里	2海里	2海里	2海里
Ships less than 12m in length	2海里	1海里	2海里	2海里	2海里
An imperceptible, partially submerged ship or object being towed	White ring light, 3 nautical miles

Third, the configuration of the light

船舶		Configuration description
A motor ship in motion	A motor ship in motion	1. A mast-light in front 2. The second mast light, behind and above the foremast light;Vessels less than 50m in length are not required to display the mastheads, but may do so 3. Two side lights 4. A taillight
	hovercraft	When sailing in a non-drained state, in addition to the above lights, a ring yellow flash should be displayed
	Ground effect wing boat	Only when taking off and landing and flying close to the water surface, in addition to the light specified in the aircraft motor ship, a high-intensity red flashing light should be displayed
	powerboat	1, the length of the motor ship less than 12m, can display a ring light and side light to replace the light in the navigation of the motor ship 2, the length is less than 7m and its maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots of the motor ship, can display a ring light to replace the light of the motor ship。If possible, side lights should also be displayed。 (3) The mast lights or ring lights of a motor vessel less than 12m in length may be displayed off the fore and aft centre lines of the vessel if they cannot be placed on the fore and aft centre lines of the vessel, provided that their side lights are combined into one and shall be installed on the fore and aft centre lines of the ship, or as close as possible to the fore and aft lines where the mast lights or ring lights are located。
Towing and pushing	When a motor boat is towing	1. Vertical two mastheads。When the length of the tow from the stern of the tug to the rear end of the object being towed exceeds 200m, three mast lights are displayed vertically。 2. Two side lights。 3. A taillight。 4, a tow light perpendicular to the taillight above。 5, when the length of the tow exceeds 200m, a diamond shape is displayed in the most visible place。
	When a pusher and a pusher are firmly connected into a combination	It shall be used as a motor vessel and shall display the lights specified for the motor vessel。
	Motor boat when pushed or towed (except in combination)	1. Vertical two mastheads。 2. Two side lights。 3. A taillight。
	A boat or object being towed	1. Two side lights。 2. A taillight。 3, when the tow length is more than 200m, a diamond shape is displayed in the most visible place。
	Any number of ships being towed or pushed as a group shall be shown as one ship	(1) A pushed ship, but not an integral part of the assembly, shall display two side lights at the front end。 (2) A ship being towed alongside shall display a taillight and two side lights at the front end。
	An unobtrusive, partially submerged tugboat or object or a combination of such ships or objects	1, in addition to the elastic drag body does not need to display lights at or near the front end, if the width is less than 25m, a ring light is displayed at the front and back ends or near the front and back ends。 2. If the width is 25m or more, add two ring lights at or near the widest point on both sides。 3, such as the length of more than 100m between the lights specified in 1 and 2, plus a number of ring light white lights, so that the distance between these lights does not exceed 100m。 4. A diamond shape is displayed at or near the end of the last boat or object to be pushed。
	When the towed boat or object is unable to display the signal light or type	All possible measures shall be taken to keep lights on the vessel or object being towed, or at least to indicate the presence of such vessel or object。
	The towing of the ship, which is not usually engaged in towing operations, cannot display the signal light	Such vessels are not required to display these lights when engaged in towing another vessel in distress or in need of assistance, but all possible measures shall be taken to indicate the nature of the relationship between the towing vessel and the vessel being towed, in particular the lighting of the towing line。
Sailboats and paddle boats in sailing	Sailboats and paddle boats in sailing	1, sailing sailboat should show: (1) Two side lights (2) A taillight 2, the length of the sailboat less than 20m, the light can be combined into a single, installed in or near the mast head of the most visible place。 3. The sailing vessel may also display two vertical ring lights at or near the mast head, red above and green below。However, these ring lights should not be displayed at the same time as the color matching lights in 2。 (1) Sailboats less than 7m in length shall, if feasible, display the lights specified in 1 or 2。However, if you do not do so, you should have a white flashlight or a lighted white lamp at hand to show it early to prevent collision。 (2) The paddle boat can display the light prescribed by the sailing boat, but if it does not do so, a white flashlight or a lighted white lamp should be ready at hand to display early to prevent collision。 (5) Ships that sail and are also propelled by machines should display a cone shape at the front where it is most visible, with the tip pointing downward。
渔船	渔船	(1) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether at sea or at anchor, shall display only the specified lights and sizes。 2, the ship engaged in trawling operations, that is, in the water to drag climbing nets or other devices used as fishing gear, should show: (1) Vertical two ring lights。Green on the top and white on the bottom, or a shape composed of two vertical cones with butt tips。 (2) A lantern。 (3) When moving against water, in addition to the above lights, two side lights and a taillight should be displayed。 (3) Vessels engaged in fishing operations, other than trawlers, shall show: (1) Two vertical ring lights, red and white, or a type composed of two cones with vertical and tip docking。 (2) When there is an overhanging fishing gear, the horizontal distance from the side of the boat is greater than 150m, should be displayed in the direction of the fishing gear with a ring light or a cone shape with an upward tip。 (3) When moving against water, in addition to the above lights, two side lights and a taillight should be displayed。 (4) When the vessel is not engaged in fishing, only the lights or sizes specified for vessels of the same length shall be displayed, and the lights or sizes specified in 1, 2 and 3 above shall not be displayed。
A ship out of control or with limited maneuverability	Sail to control the ship	1, in the most visible place, vertical two ring red light。 2, in the most visible place, vertical two spheres or similar shapes。 3. When moving against the water, two side lights and a taillight should also be displayed。
	Ships with limited maneuverability (other than those engaged in mine clearance operations)	1, the most easy to see, the vertical three ring lights, the top and bottom of the red, the middle is white。 2, in the most visible place, the vertical three shapes, the top and the bottom for the sphere, a diamond in the middle。 3. When moving against the water, the mastheads, side lights and taillights should also be displayed。 4. When mooring, in addition to the above lights or sizes, the lights or sizes specified for mooring should also be displayed。
	A motor ship engaged in a towing operation that severely limits the ability of both the tug and the object to deviate from its course	Displays towing related lights and numbers, and shows the lights and numbers of ships with limited maneuverability。
	Ships engaged in dredging or underwater operations	(1) When maneuvering is limited, the signal light or number type of the ship whose maneuvering ability is limited is displayed。 2, in addition, when there are obstacles, it should also show: (1) On the side of the obstacle, vertical two ring lights or two spheres。 (2) On the side through which the other ship can pass, two vertical rings of green light or two diamond shapes。 (3) When mooring, the above lights or numbers are displayed。
	Diving operation of the ship	1, in the most visible place, three vertical ring lights, the top and bottom are red, and the middle one is white。 2, A hard copy of the international signal flag "A", its height is not less than 1 meter, and measures should be taken to ensure that the surrounding are visible。
	Ship for mine clearance operations	Three circular green lights or three spheres shall be displayed in addition to the lights or shapes specified for the motor ship or for the moored ship。One of these lights or shapes shall be displayed near the foremast head and the others one at each end of the foremast。This light or signal indicates that it is dangerous for the vessel to come within 1000 meters of the mine clearance vessel。
	Vessels less than 12 m in length (except those engaged in diving operations)	No lights or numbers are required to show ships out of control or with limited maneuverability。
Ships limited to draft	Ships limited to draft	In addition to the signal light stipulated by the motor ship, it can also display three ring red lights in the most visible place vertically, or a cylinder。
Pilot ship	Pilot ship	1. Ships performing pilotage tasks shall show: (1) At or near the mast head, two vertical ring lights, white above and red below。 (2) When sailing, plus side lights and taillights。 (3) When mooring, in addition to the light specified in 1, the light or type specified for the mooring vessel shall also be displayed。 (2) When the pilot ship does not perform the piloting task, it shall display the light or type specified for the ship of the same length。However, all possible measures shall be taken to indicate the nature of the towing vessel from the towing vessel。
Anchor or run aground ships	Anchor ship	1. Display in the most visible place: (1) The forward part of the ship, a ring of white lights or a sphere。 (2) At or near the stern and below the circular white light specified in (1), a circular white light。 2, the length of the ship less than 50m, the most easy to see a ring lit white light。 (3) Ships in anchorage may also use existing working lights or equivalent lights to illuminate the deck, and ships with a length of 100m and more shall use such lights。
Anchor or run aground ships	Stranded ship	(1) The stranded ship shall display the signal light specified in the above-mentioned moored ship 1 and 2, and add in the most visible place: (1) Vertical two ring light red light。 (2) Vertical three spheres。
seaplane	seaplane	Where it is not possible for a seaplane or ground effect wing vessel to display lights and shapes with various characteristics or positions, lights and shapes that are most likely to approximate such characteristics and positions shall be displayed。