What color is the sternlight on a vessel?

• A. Red
• B. White
• C. Green
• D. Amber

Answer: (B)

The sternlight on a vessel is white. This light is required to be displayed by power-driven vessels when they are under way and is located at the stern, or the rear, of the vessel. The purpose of the sternlight is to indicate the position of the vessel to other mariners, particularly those approaching from behind.

The rules of navigation dictate that the sternlight must be visible from a certain distance, typically two miles for vessels operating on the open sea, ensuring that nearby vessels can maintain safe distances and avoid collisions. The white color of the sternlight is significant as it is used to distinguish it from other navigation lights, such as red for the port side and green for the starboard side, helping to communicate the direction and orientation of the vessel at night or in low visibility conditions.