33 CFR Subpart M – Navigation Lights

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183.801 Applicability.

This subpart applies to recreational vessel manufacturers, distributors, and dealers installing such equipment in new recreational vessels constructed after November 1, 2002.

183.803 Definitions.

As used in this subpart:

Dealer means any person who is engaged in the sale and distribution of recreational vessels to purchasers who the seller in good faith believes to be purchasing any such recreational vessel for purposes other than resale.

Distributor means any person engaged in the sale and distribution of recreational vessels for the purpose of resale.

Manufacturer means any person engaged in:

  1. The manufacture, construction, or assembly of recreational vessels, or
  2. The importation of recreational vessels into the United States for subsequent sale.

Navigation lights are those lights prescribed by the Navigation Rules (COLREGS and their associated Annexes and Inland Navigation Rules (33 CFR subchapter E) to indicate a vessel’s presence, type, operation, and relative heading.

[USCG-1999-6580, 66 FR 55091, Nov. 1, 2001, as amended by USCG-2015-0433, 80 FR 44287, July 27, 2015]

183.810 Navigation light certification requirements.

  1. Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, each navigation light must –
        1. Meet the technical standards of the applicable Navigation Rules;
        2. Be certified by a laboratory listed by the Coast Guard to the standards of ABYC A-16 (incorporated by reference, see § 183.5) or equivalent, although portable battery-powered lights need only meet the requirements of the standard applicable to them; and
        3. Bear a permanent and indelible label that is visible without removing or disassembling the light and that states the following:
            1. “USCG Approval 33 CFR 183.810.”
            2. “MEETS___.” (Insert the identification name or number of the standard under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, to which the laboratory type-tested.)
            3. “TESTED BY___.” (Insert the name or registered certification-mark of the laboratory listed by the Coast Guard that tested the fixture to the standard under paragraph (a)(2) of this section.)
            4. Name of manufacturer.
            5. Number of model.
            6. Visibility of the light in nautical miles.
            7. Date on which the light was type-tested.
            8. Identification and specifications of the bulb used in the compliance test.
  2. If a light is too small to attach the required label –
        1. Place the information from the label in or on the package that contains the light; and
        2. Mark each light “USCG” followed by the certified range of visibility in nautical miles (nm), for example, “USCG 2nm”. Once installed, this mark must be visible without removing the light.
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