Port and starboard navigation lights
Luces de navegación de babor y estribor
- Date
- 1848 · confidence medium
- Place
- London, England, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- British Admiralty and Trinity House
- Field
- Movement
What was discovered
Rules requiring British steamers to show a red light to port, a green light to starboard and a white light on the mast, so another ship can deduce its heading at night. They were later extended to sailing ships and became international.
The 1848 rule applied to steamers; extension to all ships and the international agreement came around 1863-1889.
What it led to
- prevention of night collisions
- international rules of the road
- navigation lights on all ships and aircraft