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Title 46

Displaying title 46, up to date as of 10/02/2026. Title 46 was last amended 9/25/2026.
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Subpart 25.10—Navigation Lights

Source:

USCG-1999-6580, 66 FR 55091, Nov. 1, 2001, unless otherwise noted.

§ 25.10-1 Applicability.

This subpart applies to vessel manufacturers, distributors, and dealers installing navigation lights on all uninspected commercial vessels, except those completed before November 7, 2002.

§ 25.10-2 Definitions.

As used in this subpart:

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

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

Manufacturer means any person engaged in:

(1) The manufacture, construction, or assembly of vessels, or

(2) The importation of vessels into the United States for subsequent sale.

Navigation lights are those lights prescribed by the Navigation Rules (Commandant Instruction 16672.2 series) to indicate a vessel's presence, type, operation, and relative heading.

§ 25.10-3 Navigation light certification requirements.

(a) 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 § 25.01-3), 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 stating the following:

(i) “USCG Approval 33 CFR 183.810”

(ii) “MEETS __.” (Insert the identification name or number of the standard under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, to which the light was type-tested.)

(iii) “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.)

(iv) Name of Manufacturer.

(v) Number of Model.

(vi) Visibility of the light in nautical miles (nm).

(vii) Date on which the light was type-tested.

(viii) Identification of bulb used in the compliance test.

(b) 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, for example, “USCG 2nm.” Once installed, this mark must be visible without removing the light.