What are the U.S. Coast Guard regulations on Navigation Lights?
• On March 31, 1977, the U.S. Coast Guard published, in the Federal Register, an amendment to the navigation and navigable water regulations which added a new subchapter DD, (33 CFR 87). This subchapter contains rules implementing and interpreting the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS). The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1960, were replaced by the 72 COLREGS at 1200 hours, zone time on July 15, 1977. Therefore, all vessels on the high seas must comply with the 72 COLREGS at this time. In addition, with the enactment of the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules Act of 1980, the Inland Rules, Western Rules, and Great Lakes Rules were unified into a single set of requirements. The effective date for this legislation was December 24, 1981 (March 1, 1983 for Great Lakes). Therefore, all vessels must comply with these rules at this time. Rules 21 and 22 of the 72 COLREGS and the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules give the color and ran
