Lighthouses, beacons, and light characteristics used for navigation.
Lighthouses and beaconsLight characteristics
3 outcomes for this module
Explain lighthouses, beacons, and light characteristics used for navigation.
Apply Lighthouses and beacons to a realistic onboard situation.
Recall the core check: lighthouses and lit marks help fix position, especially at night.
Preview the onboard scenario
You are preparing a real trip where your understanding of lighthouses and beacons shapes the decision. Use this module to explain the cue, the risk, and the next safe action before you move on.
You are preparing a real trip where your understanding of lighthouses and beacons shapes the decision. Use this module to explain the cue, the risk, and the next safe action before you move on.
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Lesson summaries
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Why Visual Aids Matter
Visual aids to navigation — lighthouses, beacons, light vessels, and lit buoys — are essential for safe navigation, especially at night and in poor visibility. Understanding light charact...
Lighthouses and lit marks help fix position, especially at night
Each light has a unique characteristic (colour, pattern, period)
Every navigational light has a defined character: the repeated pattern of light and dark that lets you identify it from a chart or the Admiralty List of Lights. The most common chart abbr...
On a chart, a light is described in a standard format, e.g., 'Fl(2) WR 10s 15m 12M'. This reads: Group flashing (2 flashes), White and Red sectors, period 10 seconds, height 15 metres abo...
Chart format: Character Colour Period Height Range
Many navigation lights show different colours in different directions, called sectors. Sector lights help vessels follow a safe approach line or keep clear of dangers. A white sector ofte...
White sector often = safe channel
Red/Green sectors often = warning of danger or channel limits
Lighthouses are the most prominent visual aids. Each has a unique combination of colour scheme (daymark), light character, and sometimes a fog signal. They are charted with a star symbol...
Lighthouses: unique daymark + light character + fog signal
Some lighthouses and navigation marks have fog signals — sound signals activated in poor visibility. These include diaphones (two-tone), sirens, horns, and bells. The character of the fog...
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