What does the color green indicate on navigational lights?

The color green on navigational lights is specifically designated to indicate the starboard side of a vessel. This is an important aspect of maritime navigation, as vessels are required to display different colored lights to communicate their position and orientation to other vessels, especially at night or in conditions of limited visibility.

When two vessels meet at sea, the right of way is often determined by the colors of their navigational lights. A vessel that sees a green light on its port side knows it is seeing the starboard side of the other vessel, which has specific implications for navigation rules, particularly those outlined by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).

This convention is critical for ensuring safety at sea by allowing mariners to determine the direction a vessel is facing and to avoid collisions. The use of colored lights helps create a standardized system that can be easily recognized by navigators all over the world, contributing to the overall safety of maritime operations.