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Navigation Lights

• You are required to display the appropriate lights at night or during times of reduced visibility.

Navigation lights are used to prevent collisions at night or in times of reduced visibility, and are an essential tool in keeping you and your vessel safe. Nav lights allow you to see other nearby vessels, and allow other vessels to see you.

Nav lights also provide information about the size, activity, and direction of travel. By understanding the characteristics of Nav lights, you can determine an appropriate course of action as you approach another vessel.

On any vessel, navigation lights have a specific color, (white, red, green, yellow, blue), arc of illumination, range of visibility, and location, as required by law and regulations. For the purposes of this course, we will concentrate on pleasure boats under 65 feet in length. Knowledge of navigation lights is important to a small-boat skipper for separate, but important, reasons.

• You are legally responsible for displaying lights of the proper color, intensity, location and visibility on your boat.
• Knowing the type and heading of another boat.

Legal Requirements

Vessels are required to show the proper navigation lights from sunset to sunrise in all weather conditions, good and bad. During these times, no other lights that could be mistaken for lights specified in the Rules of the Road can be displayed, nor any lights that impair the visibility or distinctive character of navigation lights, or interfere with the keeping of a proper lookout. The Rules also state that navigation lights must be shown in conditions of reduced visibility, and may be shown at other times considered necessary.

It's Your Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the owner/operator of a vessel that she show the proper navigation lights for her size and the waters in which she is operating. It is not the responsibility of the manufacturer, importer, or selling dealer. Many boats are delivered with lights that do not meet legal requirements with respect to technical characteristics or placement on the vessel. Remember also, that the angles of visibility must be met when the boat is underway-if your boat rides at a significant bow-up angle, take that into consideration when installing and/or checking your lights.

Navigation Lights for Powerboats

Power driven vessels underway shall exhibit a masthead light forward, sidelights and a stern light. Vessels less than 12 meters in length may exhibit an all around white light and side lights. Power driven boats on the Great Lakes may carry an all around white light in stead of a second masthead light and stern light combination.

Sidelights - Colored lights - red on port and green on starboard - showing an unbroken arc of the horizon of 112.5 degrees, from dead ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on each side.

Combination lights - Sidelights may be combined in a single fixture carried at the centerline of the vessel.

Stern light - A white light showing over an unbroken arc of the horizon of 135 degrees, centered on dead astern.

Navigation Lights for Sailing

A sailing vessel of less than 7 meters in length shall, if practicable, exhibit regular navigation lights, but if not practical, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

Diving Lights

Another light display that you may see in resort areas, or waters that have wrecks or reefs, is the night diving configuration. This has three vertical masthead lights, that have a red-white-red sequence. You must maintain a good distance from these vessels, and you should also be aware that there may be divers near you.

Interpreting what you see

It's great that you're learning the basics of lights - what is required and when they're required. But, this in only the beginning. You must also learn how to interpret the navigation lights that you see when you are underway at night- and for your safety-learn it well.

For instance, if you see a vessel approaching that shows a light pattern such as the ones to the right, you immediately know that you are in a crossing situation, and that you must yield to the other vessel - that's why it is red.

Seeing a green light over a white light indicates a fishing vessel actively trawling. You not only need to avoid the vessel, but you also need to remember that it could potentially have a very large net deployed that you will also need to avoid.

And there are numerous other lights and combinations of lights that you must be able to instantly recognize - the lights for a sailboat that is privileged over a motorboat, the special lights of various fishing vessels, a dredge or a vessel not under command. Study the requirements for navigation from the viewpoint of a "looker" as well as a boat owner.

Boat Navigation Lights Rules: Illustrated Beginners Guide

When navigating at night, the lights on other boats are your first clue about the moving dangers around you. And your navigation lights are your first line of safety in avoiding collisions in the dark, and they tell others vessels what you are and what you are doing. The rules sound complex, but with a little understanding you can get the basics for any situation.

So what are the basic navigation light rules? For most small vessels, motoring requires red and green (port and starboard) lights, and a white light visible in all directions around the boat. This is almost always a stern light and a masthead light on sailboats. Boats under sail require port and starboard lights, and a white stern light. Sailboats below sixty-five feet may show a tricolor light at the masthead instead of side and stern lights when sailing.

That's it, in a nutshell. There's a little more to it, as the rules change with different sizes and there are some specifics about angles of display for the colors. Identifying other ships at sea requires more study, but the basics are the same. And it's not much trouble to make sure you've always got the proper lights on your vessel.

On this page:

What are the official colregs rules for your sailboat, what about the uscg (united states coast guard) rules, lighting at anchor, identifying the boats around you.

The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea , abbreviated "COLREGS" is very specific about the lights required, their shapes and sizes, and the distance they must be visible. For the smaller boat, the following definitions apply.

• Masthead Light - a white light placed centerline on the boat showing an arc of 225 degrees with 112.5 degrees either side of the front of the vessel.
• Sidelights - A red light on the port side and a green light on the starboard. They must show an arc of 112.5 degrees from centerline of the bow.
• Stern light - A white light on the stern of the boat showing an unbroken arc of 135 degrees from centerline of the vessel.
• All-round light - A light showing in an unbroken arc of 360 degrees.

The good news is you need not measure these angles. Any properly installed USCG or COLREGS approved light which will cover the correct arcs. If you have to replace the original light from your boat, make sure it's with an approved replacement.

Lights When Sailing

The specific rules for a sailboat under sail are in COLREGS Rule 25 and vary slightly with the size of the boat. A sailboat powering is considered a power boat and falls under in Rule 23.

• Under 23 feet (7 meters) - side lights and a stern light, possible. If these lights can not be displayed a light must be kept at hand to help avoid a collision. This can be a bright flashlight.
• Over 23 feet - Side lights visible to one nautical mile and stern light visible for two.
• Vessels under 65 feet may combine both sidelights into a single lantern on the bow.
• May show a tricolor light on the masthead instead of sidelights and a stern light. It's one or the other though, do not show these lights at the same time .
• Masthead light must be visible for three nautical miles, all other lights must have a two nautical mile visibility.
• Side lights must be separated.
• May not show a masthead tricolor light.
• Masthead light must have five nautical mile visibility, all other lights must be visible for two nautical miles.
• Optional masthead lights - any vessel under sail may display a red light over a green light at the masthead with sidelights and stern light. The red over green may NOT be displayed with a masthead tricolor light. It's one set or the other.

Lights When Motoring

For all navigational purposes a sailboat under power is considered a power boat. This includes motor sailing - if the engine is on and providing propulsion you are on a power boat, even if the sails are up . This applies to navigation lighting, sound signals in fog and limited visibility, and rights of way.

Sailboats under 50 meters under power need to show:

• A masthead light
• Stern light

A power-driven vessel under 23 feet (7 meters) that does not exceed seven knots of speed may display an all around white light, though sidelights should be used if available.

The USCG has published its own "Rules of the Road" that are based on the COLREGS. In addition, it has rules for the "Inland Waterways" for rivers, inland lakes and the Great Lakes.

The good news is this has no impact on what you have to do with your own boat.

They mostly relate to lighting changes on towed vessels like barges and tugs. For example, a vessel towing or pushing another vessel in the ocean under COLREGS shows two masthead lights, sidelights and a stern light, whereas in Inland Waterways the towing or pushing vessel displays two yellow towing lights instead of a white stern light.

If you sail on lakes, rivers or the Great Lakes where towed commercial traffic is common you should learn the inland lights, but coastal or ocean sailors will never see these.

When you anchor outside a designated mooring field, you should display an all around white light at the masthead or as high in the boat as practical.

If your boat is large and has a very tall mast, you may wish to display another light closer to the waterline. Boats approaching in the dark may not see a light on a mast sixty or seventy feet in the air when they are close to your boat.

We use a simple garden path light on our stern when we anchor, left in a rod holder or flag socket. It comes on automatically at dusk and is a cheap and easy way to be more visible. There is no specific rule stating you can not display more lights than required, or the nature of any lights beyond the required all around light.

The COLREGS also specify that a round black "daymark" should be displayed in the rigging of any vessel at anchor. Very few small vessels observe this, however it is the correct display for a vessel in an anchorage.

If you tie to a mooring in a marked mooring area you are not required to display anchor lights, but there is no harm in doing so.

The other important reason to know your lights is to figure out what's going on around you at night. The water may be ablaze with white, red, green and other lights at night and they are your first key to avoiding collisions and problems.

All combinations of lights for fishing boats, commercial vessels, and so on are outside this post‘s scope. The odds are small you will encounter a submarine, seaplane or hovercraft at night, but there are regulations regarding specific lighting for each of those vessels!

There are a few fundamentals to help you figure out what that is you see on the horizon, which way it is going, and whether it is a danger to you.

Port Wine is Red

The fundamental rule is that red sidelights will ALWAYS be on the port side of a vessel, and green lights will always be on starboard. However, some vessels can use all around red and green lights for other purposes, though those will be higher than sidelights.

The light‘s on a ship is not important, some large tankers and freighters will have their sidelights far aft and put them on the superstructure for better visibility. It is not safe to assume that sidelights you can see are on the bow of large vessels .

When you can see the color, you know which way the bow is pointing. If it's red, it's pointing more or less to the left and will travel in that direction. A green light shows it is heading more or less to your right.

If you can see the red and green lights at the same time, you are looking directly at the bow of the vessel. When you are far away, this isn‘t as alarming as if you are close crossing. Seeing red and green lights together on a vessel is something you never want to see for long.

Be aware of red and green lights used in combination with other red, green and white lights. These may not be running lights and could have other significance.

Tankers, Freighters and Large Ships

Tankers, freighters and large ships will have side lights, a stern light and a masthead light. In addition, on vessels over 50 meters there will be a second masthead light further aft and higher than the forward light. The masthead light positions are a better tipoff to the bow direction and how far from the bow the sidelights might be. Remember - on a large vessel the sidelights may not be at the bow or even close to it.

USCG Inland Rules allow for a second all-around white light on large vessels on the Great Lakes instead of a second masthead light.

Fishing Boats

Fishing boats engaged in fishing will have more complex light displays. When they aren't fishing, they will show lights like any power vessel, but Rule 26 spells out light combinations that vary by the fishing activity being done. In general:

• Boats which are Trawling but not making headway will display a green all-around light over a white all-around light , and a masthead light aft of these lights. Boats making headway while trawling will show these lights, plus sidelights and a stern light.
• A vessel fishing other than trawling will show a red all-around light over a white all-around light . When making way they will also show sidelights and a stern light.
• If a vessel has gear more than 150 meters away from the boat, it will show a second all around light in the direction of the gear. The best rule is to give fishing boats as wide a berth as you can at night. They're easy to pick out if you check the top light configurations but their course may be difficult to predict.

Towing and Pushing

Towed vessels can be the most dangerous to cross, but they have the most lights to tell you what is happening. Refer to COLREGS or the USCG Rules of the Road Rule 24 for all combinations You can pick a tow/push vessel out with the following lights:

• Two or three masthead lights in a vertical line. Three masthead lights shows a tow over 200 meters. Additional masthead lights may show for larger tow vessels.
• A towing light (yellow light with the same characteristics as a stern light) directly above the stern light.
• The will also have side lights and a stern light.
• The towed vessel will show sidelights and a stern light. Lighting may vary under USCG inland rules, where towing lights may replace stern lights. Learn these differences if this is your regular cruising ground. If you think there is a tow ahead of you, always go well behind the aft most set of lights. Never go between a tow and avoid crossing ahead if possible as it may restrict their maneuverability.

Special Situations

There are several rare situations you may encounter. As a general rule, if there are a lot of lights and you don't understand them look for the sidelights on a moving vessel. If you can find them and figure out the direction it is moving, it makes the vessel easier to avoid. Stay well clear of lights you do not understand if you can avoid them without risk.

Most of these signals are used by larger, commercial vessels and you will not need them.

They use these light combinations with other light combinations. For example a towing vessel may also be restricted in maneuverability, and a vessel constrained by draft will show running lights if moving.

• Not Under Command - two all around red lights in a single line
• Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - red, white then red in a single line
• Constrained by draft - three all around red lights

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Boating , Boating Safety , Navigation Lights

Boat navigation lights: what each color represents.

Understanding boat navigation lights is a basic safety requirement when you take to the water in your vessel. As a boat owner, it’s up to you to have the correct lights installed on your boat and have them colored and calibrated in the correct way. When all boat owners use their lights properly and understand the lights of other boats that they see, the safety of everyone on the water is protected.

White Lights

White lights give you an overview of the vessel since they are either all around, mast or stern. *All around lights. As the name implies, all around lights project a full 360º circle of light. They would be projected from the center of the boat and need to be visible for 2 miles. *Masthead lights. They shine from 112.5º on the port side of the boat through dead ahead to 112.5º on the starboard side. Therefore, the arc of illumination is 225º. Masthead lights must always be located above side lights (which are colored). For boats less than 39.4 feet, visibility range is 2 miles; for those over 39.4 feet, it is 3 miles. *Stern lights. These lights shine aft 135º (67.5º on each side). The visible range of illumination should be 2 miles.

Red/Green/Bicolor

Colored lights are always sidelights and the different color indicates the side. Red lights are located portside, and green are starboard. The lights shine from dead ahead to 112.5º aft on either side of the vessel. On some boats, sidelights can be combined into one bicolor light. For boats less than 39.4 feet, the visible range should be 1 mile; for those over 39.4 feet, it is 2 miles.

For sailboats that are less than 7 meters long, the general boat navigation lights apply. If, however, regular marine lights cannot be used or installed practically, there is another option. Your sailboat must have an electric torch or lantern that emits a highly visible white light that you can deploy in time to prevent collisions.

Powerboats need to have a masthead light forward, sidelights and a stern light. Vessels less than 12 meters in length can have an all around white light and sidelights. Powerboats on the Great Lakes may carry an all around white light instead of a second masthead light and stern light combination. Sidelights may be combined into a single bicolor light fixed at the centerline of the boat.

Boat navigation lights are required between sunset and sunrise, and at any other times of reduced visibility. These lights can indicate the size of the boat, what it’s doing, and what direction it’s going. Boat lights are an essential way for vessels to communicate with one another.

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When you choose Intrepid, you enter a realm where every detail is considered, and every facet of your vision is meticulously brought to life. For us, perfection is not a destination; it’s a tailor-made experience, designed to reflect your unique character and preferences.

the intrepid difference

With a legacy spanning over four decades, Intrepid Powerboats stands as a paragon of excellence in the marine industry. Our unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, impeccable style, and uncompromising performance sets Intrepid apart from every other powerboat brand on the water. When you choose Intrepid, you embrace a heritage of unmatched quality and distinction, making every journey an extraordinary one.

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Since our inaugural voyage in 1983, Intrepid has earned its stature as the vanguard of industry-leading innovation. Our relentless quest for perfection drives us to continually pioneer the most advanced design, engineering, and fabrication techniques. Our commitment to propelling the industry forward ensures that every Intrepid represents not just the pinnacle of design, but the embodiment of innovation itself.

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Boat Navigation Lights: Everything You NEED to Know (2024)

In many cases, boating at night requires the use of boat navigation lights, but boaters often have many questions about them.

They often wonder when they’re needed, what the requirements are for various locations and vessels, and more.

We’re going to do a deep dive into navigation lights for boat to see what you need on your boat, and when you need to use them. 

Legal Requirements

Types of navigational lights, which navigation lights are required on my boat , operators responsibility  , navigation lights .

On any vessel operating on or in US waters, there is a need for the operator to display navigation lights under certain circumstances. Their purpose is to make vessels aware of each other at night or in times of generally reduced visibility. This is incredibly important during times when you may not be able to see the craft itself.

Other than visibility, marine nav lights also help boat operators determine the size, direction of travel, and even the potential activity of another boat on the water. When an operator understands the type of information each light tells them, they will be better able to determine appropriate courses of action for potential situations.

Boat running lights are divided by location and color, and each of them has specific requirements with how they must be displayed and perceived. You are the one legally responsible for displaying proper nav lights on the boat, for displaying them at the proper times, and for understanding how to read them.

The US Coast Guard ’s legal navigation light requirements include guidelines for every aspect of light usage.

Their materials start by first defining the standard daily period during which they must be used, then they detail how many of each type of light is needed as well as where they are located. Each light also has constraints regarding its visible distance and the arc over which it can be seen. 

In the US, the Coast Guard says that any powered vessel that is under 39.4ft., may operate with boat nav lights in as little as two positions, an all-round light at the stern, and a set of sidelights at the bow. 

Vessels that are under 164ft. must have lights displayed in four positions, a stern light, a masthead light, and boat sidelights on both the port and starboard, near the bow.

The ship navigation lights also have minimum visibility distances, depending on the size of the craft. The minimum visibility for nav lights, even for small crafts, is one mile, with requirements that other lights on larger vessels be visible for up to 3 nautical miles.

Also read: Boating Rules and Etiquette On the Water

Boat lights come in 4 types, sidelights, stern light, masthead light, and all-round light. Lights only come in white, red, and green, and all have very specific jobs.

Masthead Light

The masthead light is the white light located about ⅔ of the way up the mast, rather than at the top as you’d think. This boat bow light is required when using motor power at night. To be acceptable, the light must have an arc of 225° and needs to be seen from 2 miles away.

Large boats can have up to 3 mast lights. If your boat is shorter than 39 ft., all 2-3 white mast lights can be combined, utilizing one larger white light at the top of the mast.

Color : White ARC : 225 degrees Position : Front of boat

Port Sidelight

The boating lights located on the port side of the watercraft are red and mounted so that boats can see as they approach either head-on or from the left. This light helps tell if a boat is coming towards you or if it is pointing away. The phrase “red, right, returning” means that if you see a boat with their red navigation light on the right, they are facing your boat. The only time it is not needed is when your boat is anchored for the night .

Color : Red ARC : 122.5 degrees Position : Forward, left side

Starboard Sidelight

If you are to approach a boat from the front or right, you will see the green starboard sidelight. With an ARC of 122.5 degrees, approaching boats will be able to see yours easily.

This light helps tell you whether or not you have the right of way, which is important when it comes to keeping both you and your passengers safe. These are some of the front boat lights.

This light will often be combined with the port light, in small boat navigation lights. When out in the water, if you see the green light, that means it is safe for you to go, as you have the right of way.

Color : Green ARC : 122.5 degrees Position : Forward, right side.

The rear boat light is called the stern light. It is used to mark the rear of the boat. The operator can infer from only setting a boat stern light, that they are directly behind the vessel. 

The stern light is white and is visible for an arc of 112.5 degrees on both the port and starboard sides, making a full arc of 225. Being able to see the red starboard side light as well as the stern light, should indicate the other vessel is traveling to the right from the perspective of the observer. 

Color : White ARC : 225 degrees Position : Stern

All-Around Light

One of the boat night lights that is required when on your boat between sunset and sunrise is the all-around light. This light is intended to be seen from any point and helps to tell what direction a boat is moving. This light is also used when a boat is stopped or anchored.

This anchor light is required to have an ARC of 360 degrees and should be visible for two miles. The all-around light is white and it is located at the top of your boat’s mast for maximum visibility.

Color : White ARC : 360 degrees Position : Top of mast

Tricolor Light

A tricolor light is a sailboat mast light that has your three types of bow light in one convenient piece of equipment. They are for sailboats that are smaller than 65.6 feet long. The point of this sailboat light is to increase your nighttime visibility. They are mounted at the top of the mast, allowing larger boats to see yours better. They are not permitted to be used by any boats with a motor. The only type of boat that can utilize a tricolor light is a sailboat.

Color : White, red, green ARC : 360 degrees Position : Top of mast

Towing Light

These yellow lights are important, as they indicate to other watercraft that, not only is there another boat nearby but that they are also towing someone as well. The light must be positioned at the back of the boat, as close to the stern as possible. The goal is to avoid having anyone run into the boat that is being towed, as there may be no lights showing where that boat is located. The boat lighting requirements when towing state that both sidelights, a stern light, and masthead lights should also be displayed.

Color : Yellow ARC : 135 degrees Position : Over fore and aft centerline of the boat

Law Enforcement Light 

Lights used by law enforcement on the water are flashing blue lights that can flash 120 times per minute or more. They can be used nearly anywhere that is convenient for the operator, provided they do not interfere with the function of the other lights.

This light may be displayed by any type of local law enforcement that is engaged in the course of their duty. This can apply to local, state, or federal police, as well as officials from wildlife and conservation departments, the Coast Guard, and more.

Color : Flashing Blue ARC : 180-225 degrees Position : Anywhere not interfering with other lights

Find your boat type below for the lineup of nav lights that you will need to safely operate after sunset and in other times of limited visibility.

Be sure you know which lights you will need to have on while underway, as well as at anchor or while towing. If you’re sailing, don’t forget that you are considered power-driven when using your motor.

Powerboat under 23 feet (7m) 

Powerboats under 23 feet are required to have the following navigation lights displayed:

• One white masthead light visible for 2 miles
• One red & green sidelight visible for 1 mile
• One stern light visible for 2 miles
• One white, red, green, or yellow all-round light visible for 2 miles

Powerboat Under 39,4 feet (12m)  

Powerboats under 39,4 feet are required to follow these boat light rules:

• One all-round light visible for 2 miles

Powerboat Over 39,4 feet (12m)  

Powerboats over 39,4 feet are required to have the following navigation lights displayed:

• One white masthead light visible for 5 miles, unless less than 20 meters, then 3 miles
• One red & green sidelight visible for 2 miles

Powerboat 39,4 feet (12m) to 164 feet (50m) 

Powerboats between 39,4 feet and 164 feet are required to have the following marine running lights displayed:

• One white masthead light visible for 6 miles
• One red & green sidelight visible for 3 miles
• One stern light visible for 3 miles
• One all-round light visible for 3 miles

Sailboat Under 23 feet (7m) 

Sailboats under 23 feet are required to have the following sailing navigation lights displayed:

• One white stern light
• One white mast lantern positioned at or near the top of the mast where it can be easily seen from a distance

Note: if it is not practicable for the vessel to display the prescribed lights, one all-round white light can be used or a hand torch, with enough time to prevent a collision.

Sailboat Under 65,6 feet (20m) 

Sailboats under 65,6 feet are required to have the following sailing lights displayed:

Tug Boat With Tow Length Under 656 feet (200m) 

Tug boats with tow lengths less than 656 feet are required to have the following navigation lights displayed:

• Two masthead lights in a vertical line
• Stern light
• Towing light in a vertical line above the stern light

Tug Boat With Tow Length Over 656 feet (200m) 

Tug boats with tow lengths longer than 656 feet are required to have the following navigation lights displayed:

• Three masthead lights in a vertical line
• A towing light placed vertically above the stern light
• A diamond shape visibly displayed

Anchored Vessel 

Vessels at anchor or aground are required to observe the following boat lighting rules:

• One white all-round in the fore
• One white all-round at a lower level than the fore, at the stern

If aground, the vessel should display two red all-round lights in a vertical line

Vessel Under Oars 

Vessels under oar power have similar requirements to follow as small sailboat lighting:

• One stern light

Or, alternately, one white all-round light or hand torch to be used to manually signal to avoid collision

Vessel Engaged in Fishing 

Vessels actively engaged in fishing are required to have the following marine navigation lights displayed:

• Two all-round lights oriented in a vertical line, red on top and white on the bottom
• One all-round white light for gear more than 150 meters from the vessel
• When making its way through the water, there shall also be sidelights and stern light

Vessel Engaged in Trawling 

Vessels engaged in trawling are required to fulfill the following boat light requirements:

• Two all-round lights oriented in a vertical line, green on top and white on the bottom
• One masthead light abaft and higher than the all-round green

Kayakers and Canoers 

Kayakers and canoers are required to have the following navigation lights displayed:

Alternatively, a hand torch or lantern which can be used to signal to avoid collisions

Personal Watercraft 

There are no established rules for navigation lights on personal watercraft, even though many of them are classified as a boat by coast guard standards. Personal watercraft are often not permitted to operate outside of the sunrise-to-sunset period, and so most manufacturers do not install or make possible the installation of navigation lights. 

Vessels Restricted in their Ability to Maneuver 

Vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver are required to have the following navigation lights displayed:

• Three all-round lights displayed as high a possible in a vertical line, red at the top, and white in the middle
• One masthead light

The USCG as well as state authorities hold the operator of the vessel responsible for the correct use and understanding of nav lights.

This means they also must make sure all of the lights used meet the requirements set forth by the authorities.

This also extends to ensuring that the lights are all installed for optimal visibility while underway, so if your cruiser rides high, make sure your lights are still visible.

What navigation lights do I need on my boat?

Boat light regulations state boats must have a pair of red and green sidelights, and an all-around white light that can be seen from 360°.

Why are navigation lights red and green?

Navigation lights for boats indicate to others which direction a boat is facing. The red indicates the left side of the boat, green is on the right.

What lights need to be on a boat at night?

Per the navigation lighting rules, it is crucial that you have your red and green navigation lights, as well as the white 360° light.

Which three colors are used for navigational lights?

The boat light colors are going to be green, red, and white. If you see a blue light, this generally indicates a government vessel.

Do I need navigational lights on my boat?

Yes, all boats are legally required to have the minimum red, green, and white boat safety lights

 when operating in the dark.

Why do boats have blue lights?

When you see a boat that has blue boat lights at night, that means that it is likely the coast guard or law enforcement.

Why is port red and starboard green?

The light on the starboard side of the boat is green because it is ‘safe’, as the steersman will be able to see other boats.

What does a single white light mean on a boat at night?

If you can only see a single white light on a boat at nighttime, you are likely seeing the stern light or the boat anchor light.

Robert Owens is the Chief of Content of Quicknav. Robert has been boating for over ten years and loves to share his experience on the water. His first boat was a dirt-cheap moderately beat up 2003 Bayliner 175, where he learned a tremendous amount about trailering, launching, docking, operating, and maintaining. He currently owns a Cruiser Yacht and is eyeing a sailboat.

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VESSEL LIGHTS – A COMPLETE GUIDE

• Post author: Noel Hutchinson
• Post published: August 1, 2019
• Post category: Uncategorized
• Post comments: 0 Comments

When we start taking our boats out we eventually get to the stage where we go out in the dark. That means we are going to see some different vessel lights on the water.

This may even come sooner than we intended if we get our planning wrong and arrive late.

There are lots of lights out there to try and make sense of. It’s important that we can identify some of the signals we are being shown so that we can avoid any dangers. This could include large shipping, boats with fishing gear or even military vessels.

Below is a complete guide to vessel lights along with another of our handy downloads. There is a load more information on our YouTube channel too, which you can find here:

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First of all take a look at this video guide to the definitions of vessel lights and their visible angles.

POWER DRIVEN VESSELS

Normal power driven vessels have four lights to distinguish them from other boats.

As per all other boats they have a red port light on the left side of the bow. Opposite that they have a green starboard light on the right side of the bow. In the below image we can see that the vessel is facing us.This is because we can see both the port and starboard lights at the same time.

As well as these two lights, power driven vessels have a forward facing, white masthead light. This indicates that the vessel is being propelled by machinery. This light is sometimes referred to as a ‘steaming light’ because of this.

A second piece of information we can derive from the masthead light is it’s size. A vessel with a single masthead light is under 50 metres in length. A second masthead light is compulsory for vessels over 50 metres in length. Just like in the image below.

The reason we state that two mast head lights ‘probably’ mean over 50 metres is because smaller vessels are also allowed two masthead lights. However, this is usually impractical because the rules state that the second masthead light must be 4.5 metres higher than the first. Most smaller vessels don’t have the structure to accommodate this.

Finally, a power driven vessel has a single white stern light. When this light is visible to us, we can’t see any of the bow or steaming lights. We therefore know we are approaching the vessel stern. This is important as under the IRPCS (or ColRegs) this makes us the overtaking vessel and therefore the ‘Give Way’ vessel.

There are a couple of exceptions to the above light configuration for power driven vessels.

Firstly, a vessel of less than 12 metres in length is allowed to combine the masthead light and stern light. These then become a single all round white light.

Secondly, a power driven vessel of less than 7 metres in length and capable of a maximum speed that is less than 7 knots, is allowed to display a single all round white light in lieu of everything else.

AIR-CUSHIONED VESSELS OR HOVERCRAFT

These vessels are power driven and so they display the same lights as power driven vessels. In addition however, so they can be distinguished, they also display and all round flashing yellow light. This is mounted where it can best be seen.

SAILING VESSELS

The lights for sailing vessels are very similar to those of power driven vessels plus a couple of extra options.

When sailing, the vessel has to display red and green side lights and a white stern light. It does not display a forward facing masthead light as that would mean it was being propelled by machinery. A masthead does need to be fitted though as it must be displayed when the engine is turned on. This is an important distinction because sailing vessels and power driven vessels avoid collisions in different ways.

We can also tell something about the vessel size from the two side lights. Smaller sailing vessels, under 20 metres in length are allowed to combine the two lights at the top of the mast. Once a sailing vessel is over 20 metres long then the two lights must be separate. These then have to be placed on the bow.

Additionally, sailing vessels have the option to show two all round lights at the top of the mast. These are a red light over a green light. However, these can’t be shown at the same time as a combined light mentioned above.

Finally, much like power driven vessels, a sailing vessel less than 7 metres in length is able to display a single white light instead of the other lights.

so those are the basics for power driven vessels and sailing vessels. There next comes a series of vessel lights that indicate special conditions. These help us identify the ‘Give Way’ and ‘Stand On’ vessels that are described under Rule 18 of the IRPCS. Rule 18 is the responsibilities between vessels and you can get a reminder of this rule using the following video.

All of the following vessels are identified by different day shapes during daylight hours. If you need a recap on these check out this article:

VESSELS NOT UNDER COMMAND

Vessels not under command identify themselves by showing two all round red lights, one above the other.

‘Red over red. Captain’s dead.’ ?

They come at the top of the ‘Stand On’ list because they can’t effectively take action to avoid a collision. This is defined as being due to an exceptional circumstance. For instance, they are broken in some way or have sustained damage that compromises their ability.

Importantly, these vessels give us some other information. If they are making way through the water then they display their side lights and stern light. If they are not making way through the water then they only display the all round red lights to indicate that they are not moving.

Additionally to the above, if the exceptional circumstance is because the vessel is aground the anchor lights will be displayed as well.

RESTRICTED IN ABILITY TO MANOEUVRE

In equal place in the ‘Stand On’ list are vessels restricted in ability to manoeuvre. Unlike vessels that are not under command, these are not restricted due to an exceptional circumstance. Instead, these are restricted due to the nature of their work. They could be carrying out under water surveys, diving operations, laying pipes or cable or anything else that hampers them.

These vessels are distinguished by three all round lights in a vertical line. The middle one being white and the other two being red.

This is a second vessel that will turn off its side lights and stern light if it not making way through the water. It will turn them back on again once it starts making way.

One such vessel mentioned under this rule that is restricted due to the nature of its work is a Mine Sweeping vessel.

These vessels display the lights for a power driven vessel appropriate to their size plus three all round green lights arranged as shown. I would suggest that if you ever see these lights you’re in the wrong place.

VESSELS CONSTRAINED BY DRAUGHT

A vessel constrained by it’s draught can only navigate within the confines of a narrow channel. The draught is the distance from the waterline to the bottom of the hull or keel. In this case the vessel requires deep water so as not to run aground. Smaller vessels must not impede these larger ships.

To show their condition these vessels display three all round red lights in a vertical line. Unlike previous examples though, these vessels never turn off their side lights or stern light.

VESSELS ENGAGED IN FISHING

The next vessels in the list are those engaged in fishing. These guys are hampered by their fishing gear and represent quite a hazard to recreational boat users. There are different types of fishing activity and they are distinctive by use of their lights.

Fishing vessels also turn off their side lights and stern light when they aren’t making way.

Vessels engaged in standard fishing will display a red light over a white light to indicate what they are doing.

‘Red over white frying tonight’. ?

Vessels engaged in trawling instead of normal fishing will indicate the fact by displaying a green light over a white light. This lets us know that there fishing nets extending from the vessel which will present a hazard to other boats.

Sometimes trawlers will work together. This is referred to as pair trawling. Both trawlers will display green lights over white lights. Additionally, they will display different lights to illustrate their activities. These are as shown in the following three illustrations.

The final type of fishing vessel with a unique light display is a Purse Seine fishing vessel. These fisherman drop weighted nets in a circle so as to form a ‘purse’. These are then drawn in like a big bag to collect the shoals of fish.

In addition to the red over white lights, purse seiners will display to flashing yellow lights. These are installed vertically and flash alternately.

VESSELS ENGAGED IN TOWING AND PUSHING

Vessels engaged in towing and whose purpose is to be able to tow will display the lights for a power driven vessel. In addition, they will display a second, white, forward facing masthead light and a yellow stern light. The yellow stern light is placed above the usual white stern light.

The length of the tow is measured from the bow of the towing vessel to the stern of the tow. If this total length exceeds 200 metres then a third white, forward facing masthead light is displayed.

On occasion, rather than towing behind, it is necessary to push another vessel ahead. In these circumstances the towing vessel displays the same lights as above. However, the vessel being pushed will also display its own side lights. This is shown in the below starboard side illustration.

TOWING PARTIALLY SUBMERGED OBJECTS

When towing partially submerged objects such as pontoons or salvaged vessels, the towing lights remain the same. In addition to these, the objects have required light configurations as well.

A partially submerged object must have a white all round light installed on the front end and the back end.

If the object is over 100 metres in length then additional all round white lights must be installed so that the space between them does not exceed 100 metres.

If the object is more than 25 metres wide, then all round white lights must be installed on the sides of it. These are in addition to the other white lights described here.

PILOT VESSELS ON DUTY

A pilot vessel on duty will display an all round white light over an all round red light. This indicates to us that there is a large ship in the vicinity and we will be required to stay out the way.

‘Pilots have a white hat and a red nose’. ?

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Boat Navigation Light Types

• Boating Safety Equipment
• Types of navigation lights

What are the 5 navigational lights?

Port and starboard sidelights

One of the essential safety features of any watercraft are the port and starboard sidelights. These lights play a crucial role in ensuring the visibility and navigation of vessels, especially during nighttime or low visibility conditions. On the port side, a red light illuminates the surroundings. This distinct red light provides a clear indication of the port side of the vessel. On the starboard side, a green light identify the starboard side of the vessel. 

A white light placed at the stern of the boat. This white light is seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel.

Masthead light

A white light projecting towards the front of the boat.

All-round light

A white light projecting all around the vessel.

What is a navigation light?

Just like for vehicles on our roadways, there are rules that apply to the lights that must be displayed by boats. 

These lights provide critical information to the operators of other vessels when they see you. Depending on the lights required to be displayed on your boat based on its length and type of propulsion, the information that these lights provide to others can tell them whether you are at anchor or underway or engaged in some other activity, whether you are a power-driven vessel or not, what your heading is, etc. Other vessels around you make collision avoidance decisions based on the information available to them, that's why it is so important that the information your navigation lights are giving them is the correct information.

If you are caught by the police not showing lights or showing improper lights, you will likely be fined. Worse yet, if the information your navigation lights are providing is incorrect and an accident occurs as a result of this, there could be serious repercussions.  

When must navigation lights be displayed?

Navigation lights must be displayed:

At night (between sunset and sunrise)

When periods of restricted (poor) visibility (fog or heavy rain)

What are the rules of navigation lights on boats?

Port and Starboard lights must be visible from one nautical mile, and masthead and stern lights must be visible from two nautical miles. 

Boat Navigation Lights rules and requirements

Powerboats navigation lights.

A power driven vessel   of less than 12 meters in length, and underway, may display, from sunset to sunrise:

All-round light   (white) forward and,

Sidelights   (red – green).

Sailboats navigation lights

and underway, may display, from sunset to sunrise:

Sidelights   (red – green) and,

• Sternlight   (white).

Sailboats are considered powerboats when they have the engines on - even if the sails are up. 

Masthead light  (white) forward,

Sternlight  (white).

Commercial boats navigation lights

Police boat lights - Blue flashing light 

All law enforcement agencies (Police) and some government agencies must display an all-around blue-flashing beam engaged in duties in Canadian waters.

Tugboat lights - Yellow lights

Is a navigation light used for towing. It's a yellow over a white navigation light placed at the forward end of a towing vessel or vessel being towed.

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Witness Anya Taylor-Joy: The ‘Furiosa’ Star on Making the ‘Mad Max’ Icon Her Own and Hopes for ‘Dune 3’

Photographs by Jonny Marlow

If you want to become a dystopian feminist warrior, you’re not going to get much sleep. That was one of the first things Anya Taylor-Joy learned on the set of George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” prequel “ Furiosa .” Under heavy coats of makeup, shooting in the Australian winter when daylight was scarce, Taylor-Joy wished she could have stayed in bed at least through the crack of dawn. Instead, she’d rise up in the middle of the night, ready to do battle.

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Shooting in a sand-dune wasteland, Taylor-Joy worked through most weekends during the six-and-a-half-month shoot. One day, she woke up and realized something shocking. “I hadn’t seen anybody that wasn’t in wasteland hair and makeup in two months,” Taylor-Joy says. “I had not seen anybody looking regular.”

A nurturing Furiosa? We’re a long way from Theron’s mechanical-armed badass. When “Fury Road” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival the day before it blitzed the U.S. box office, it was as if a bomb had gone off. After beginning his career with the first three installments of the “Mad Max” saga, from 1979 to 1985, Australian director Miller lightened up, making the oddball comedy “The Witches of Eastwick,” the weepie “Lorenzo’s Oil,” and movies in the “Babe” and “Happy Feet” franchises, about lovable pigs and penguins. But the road beckoned, and “Fury Road,” with its vision of high-octane matriarchy, marked his return to form. And in 2015, a year in which the box office would be dominated by the CGI-ridden “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Jurassic World” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Miller’s practical-effects-driven “Fury Road” offered something different: a propulsive survival thriller whose ultimate special effect lay in its human-scale stakes.

And at its heart was Furiosa. Though the #MeToo tsunami would be a few years away, Theron’s Furiosa embodied a boiling-over rage women had begun feeling more comfortable expressing publicly. Bucking the bleak new world order, Furiosa rescues five sex slaves from the evil warlord Immortan Joe. Critics called “Fury Road” one of the best action movies of all time, and it won six Oscars after grossing $380 million worldwide.

It got there through force of will. Miller is a famously exacting director, a trait that remained in evidence on “Furiosa.” Taylor-Joy recalls geting one consistent note from him. “We’d do takes where he’d be like, ‘Do it again with your mouth closed,'” she says. “He has a thing about my mouth. He thinks when my mouth is open, I look too young.” So Taylor-Joy would jump back into another gut-wrenching scene with her jaw tightly clenched.

“This is the wasteland, and any outbreak of emotion is punished by death,” Taylor-Joy says. “Any empathy is punished by death — any kindness, really. It all made sense to me. I think the restrictions that were placed on me by George did create a radiation off the character, because she is being suppressed continuously throughout the film.”

This suppression may not be what audiences initially expected or even wanted: Since “Fury Road,” fans have eagerly awaited a sequel, one that might show what befell Furiosa after her liberation. But in 2020, Miller announced plans for a prequel. The new movie starts with Furiosa as a young girl in the utopian paradise known as the Green Place. We learn how her mother is killed, spurring her quest for revenge, and see Furiosa spend her teenage years held captive by the sinister Dr. Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). And, yes, the movie even reveals how Furiosa loses her arm.

Miller had a habit of showing her the dailies in black and white, although the film is shot in color. One of the reasons why “Fury Road” was so beloved (and such a nightmare to make) was that 90% of the special effects were performed for real, but “Furiosa” incorporates more CGI. In the version that Miller was showing Taylor-Joy, the CGI hadn’t been added yet. She could just see her acting, minus some of the chaos.

“Furiosa doesn’t talk much,” Taylor-Joy says. “She’s a pretty silent character. I hope that’s part of the reason George chose me. Until I was doing Furiosa, I didn’t quite realize that’s been a lot of my career — a lot of my career has played out in my eyes.”

Those eyes first bewitched us almost a decade ago. Taylor-Joy had wanted to become an actress after seeing “Atonement,” starring a 13-year-old Saoirse Ronan (who is two years older than Taylor-Joy). “I was like, ‘Wait, you can be a kid in an adult film?'”

In 2015, the same year “Fury Road” opened in theaters, Taylor-Joy found herself the toast of Sundance for her role in “The Witch,” Robert Eggers’ horror film about a 17th-century farm girl who succumbs to the lure of evil spirits. At 18, she wasn’t quite a kid, but her talent made her a prodigy. “I joke that I went to Sundance and I never came home, but it’s not a joke,” Taylor-Joy says. “It just happened.”

She continued her scream-queen run as a kidnap victim with surprising inner strength in M. Night Shyamalan’s late-2000s thrillers “Split” and “Glass.” And her eyes captivated the world in October 2020, when Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit” made chess — and Taylor-Joy’s portrayal of a complicated, frustrating genius — feel layered and riveting. The series was a surprise hit, and a bored and locked-down viewership spurred a spike in chessboard sales.

Taylor-Joy’s career since then is a study in versatility: She played a sorceress in “The Northman” (a reunion with Eggers), and she scored a surprise zeitgeist hit playing a role initially meant for Emma Stone in the social satire “The Menu.” And her greatest recent coup was her buzzy cameo as an unborn baby in “Dune: Part Two.”

But “Furiosa” is arguably the biggest gamble of Taylor-Joy’s career, and her most challenging role to date. As Marvel slows down, the latest offering from the “Mad Max” universe represents a test of the power of big-budget franchise blockbusters for studio Warner Bros. And Taylor-Joy has big desert boots to fill. In the first trailers for the film, a voice-over that sounds like Theron narrates the hardships of Furiosa’s youth, but Taylor-Joy clarifies that it’s actually her speaking.

“Really?” Taylor-Joy says when I tell her that I thought Theron had come back to read this dialogue. “Good!” And then she ribs me a little: “You’re shocked that I’m good?” she huffs. “Acting darling.” She adds, “I was channeling Furiosa’s voice. Gal doesn’t talk much. When she opens her mouth, it’s rusty in there.”

Warner Bros. is hoping that familiar raspy voice attracts moviegoers. “Furiosa,” which opens in theaters on May 24, will first host a splashy premiere at Cannes. The last time Taylor-Joy hit the Croisette was in 2017, when she received the Trophée Chopard for breakout stardom, presented, coincidentally, by Theron. But this time, if Cannes marks the starting line for the film’s road to box office Valhalla, Taylor-Joy will be sealed among the next generation of Hollywood’s A-list stars, alongside her “Dune” peers Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler and Zendaya.

Theron has said in interviews that she was disappointed not to be returning to one of her favorite characters. Originally, Miller — who wrote the script for “Furiosa” before Fury Road” — had planned to bring Theron back in a sequel. When he decided to make the prequel, he even toyed with using de-aging technology. But a couple of films convinced him that CGI had limits.

“I saw not only ‘The Irishman,'” Miller says, “but Ang Lee’s ‘Gemini Man,’ with Will Smith. Both of them were masterful directors, but it was never persuasive. I thought all people would be watching is Charlize looking young and knowing it’s an effect. And as time went on and we got into litigation with Warner Bros, we had to find someone younger.” (In 2017, Miller sued the studio over a $7 million bonus he claimed he was owed for “Fury Road.”)

One day, Miller’s friend Edgar Wright invited him to see an early cut of “Last Night in Soho,” in which Taylor-Joy plays an entrancing singer — Audrey Hepburn with an edge. Miller loved the film — but he couldn’t wait for it to be over so he could ask Wright about working with Taylor-Joy. “He basically said, ‘She’s incredibly rigorous, disciplined,'” Miller says. Wright connected the pair.

That was followed by a long phone call, after which Taylor-Joy put herself on tape for him — reenacting the famous monologue from 1976’s “Network” in which Peter Finch declares, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this any more!” Taylor-Joy had never seen the film, but she nailed it, making the iconic moment of rage her own. Miller called her with a note, and she then sent him a second tape, showing that she’d be adept at following his direction.

Finally, Miller offered Taylor-Joy the job by calling her and saying something to the effect of “So when you come to Australia…” She recalls processing his words in slow motion. “I think it means I got it,” she remembers thinking. “Cool!”

Taylor-Joy had seen “Fury Road” in a movie theater in Belfast while she was making “Morgan,” a 2016 horror film. “As a team bonding experience, we went to see it,” she says. “I stood up in the theater and clapped at the end of it.” Years later, when word broke that she’d been cast to play the next Furiosa, she was back in Belfast — this time shooting “The Northman.” “I saw the news go worldwide,” she says. “I sort of screamed and ran around my apartment.”

As a ballet dancer, she’d undergone rigorous training all her life. But the process of becoming Furiosa required extra steps. “I was doing weights” — squats, lifts and rows — “and they helped for sure,” Taylor-Joy says. “The stability weights give you, particularly in your shoulders — ballet dancers’ arms are very strong, but it’s all floaty.” She adds, “It was about being able to hold myself up, and to hold these weapons too. I have a slight frame, and these are heavy guns.”

She went to a gun range in Los Angeles to learn how to shoot. But during the making of “Furiosa,” for the sake of the crew’s safety, Miller never used real bullets or even blanks. “George was like, ‘Nothing will be coming out of them,'” Taylor-Joy says. She had to perform the guns’ kick herself. “So I experienced what it was like to shoot these individual weapons, and then you have to fake it.”

Another challenge: Furiosa drives fast, an obstacle given that Taylor-Joy doesn’t have a driver’s license. “I don’t think I allowed myself to think about crashing anything,” she says, adding that she’d try to get more sleep the nights before she shot the big chase scenes on motorbikes and other “Mad Max” vehicles.

Hemsworth laughs when asked about filming these scenes with an unlicensed driver. “At the time, I wasn’t aware,” he says. “I think she automatically gets a license by default, doesn’t she?” He envisions Taylor-Joy marching up to the DMV: “‘Here’s my driver’s test,’ she’d say, and hand them a ticket to ‘Furiosa!’ And then the instructor should be like, ‘Oh yeah. We get it. You can do it!'”

“Fury Road” was a notoriously difficult shoot, between the real-life crashes, budget restrictions, shifts in weather (unlike “Furiosa,” the 2005 film was shot in Namibia) and animosity between its two lead stars — Theron and Tom Hardy. But Miller says that “Furiosa” didn’t have such hardships.

Hemsworth, who modeled his villain on ancient Roman leaders, dons a prosthetic nose that gives Bradley Cooper’s schnoz in “Maestro” a run for its money. “I spent about four hours in the makeup chair,” he says with a groan. “Twas justifiably irritated by the end of it. That really helped my performance-there was a nice amount of pent-up rage simmering under the surface.”

Taylor-Joy, too, found herself spending as many as five hours a day getting ready. Playing the solitary Furiosa made her prone to bouts of loneliness. Under so many layers of makeup, and physically apart from her co-stars, she’d spend long stretches of time inside her head. “There were some days when I definitely needed to de-stress,” Taylor-Joy says. “I developed a really strange addiction to stories about people who are fighting evil.”

Like what? “I found real comfort in ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4,” she says. She’d watch scenes from the Netflix series between takes. “I had to have something on my phone that reminded me of the goodness in the world,” she says.

Passing the time came naturally to a woman who knows life as a nomad. She grew up in Argentina, and moved to London at 6 as the youngest in a family of six kids. She always saw herself as a tomboy who loved to play outdoors. “My dad is a powerboat racer,” she says, “and we love Formula One.” The only reason she doesn’t have a driver’s license, she says, is that she doesn’t have a place she thinks of as a permanent home (though Los Angeles is where she hangs her hat when not shooting). “I’m never in one place long enough to get one,” she says. “I also feel like I probably need to learn how to parallel park. That’s something I don’t know how to do.”

Taylor-Joy is already planning her next adventure. She’s just scored tickets to see Paul McCartney performing at a tribute concert to Jimmy Buffett at the Hollywood Bowl tonight, a surprise for her husband, the musician Malcolm McRae. “I think I just won best wife of the year,” she says, “so I’m excited.”

Their parents weren’t even with them when they tied the knot. “Malcolm FaceTimed his family from the church,” she says. “We were like, ‘Hiii!’ But they knew we were engaged for a little while.”Taylor-Joy marks time through movie roles. “We got engaged while I was shooting ‘The Menu.'” (The film shot in fall 2021, in Savannah, Ga.) Although close family members knew about the engagement, “we kept it a secret from our friends until some newspaper blew it up,” she says. They later had a 150-person ceremony in Venice, Italy, in October 2023. Of the elopement, she explains: “It was for us. It was romantic.”

The next big big secret she kept? Her cameo in Dune: Part Two.” As Taylor-Joy tells it, she met with director Denis Villeneuve for another role in the film before she left for Australia to shoot “Furiosa.” (“Denis is one of my all-time favorites,” she says. “Arrival is my comfort movie.”) But at the meeting, Villeneuve told her that her schedule on Miller’s shoot wouldn’t allow her to simultaneously depart for the fictional planet of Arrakis.

“Before I even sat down, he was like, ‘I want you to be in “Dune,” but you can’t do it!'” Taylor-Joy recalls. “I was like, ‘Please?’ I skipped all the stages of grief and went straight to begging I was like, ‘I can do this. I can be in Australia and Abu Dhabi at the same time.’ He wanted me to be part of the universe. We kept in touch. I just had this feeling that it wasn’t over.”

So while filming “Furiosa,” she kept asking her agents about “Dune,” but they told her that the production had begun without her. Then, on the day she arrived back in Los Angeles from Australia, Villeneuve called her with a madcap proposition, sounding giddy. “He said, ‘I made a deal with the studio: If I was on budget and on time, I could do this.'” By “this,” he was referring to a small role at the end of the film where Taylor-Joy appears as Paul Atreides’ younger sister, Alia,all grown up. Her mere existence as a projection of the family’s future feels like a promise that the franchise isn’t over.

“Anya was Alia as soon as I met with her,” Villeneuve says in an email. “In fact, I realized after the fact, she has always been Alia. Anya feels out of this world, as though she belongs to some other dimension, one step into the dream.”

She didn’t tell anyone about the cameo, which shot with a scant crew in Namibia. “I told my husband and my parents,” she says, adding, “and I took my mum.” She claims that Villeneuve kept it so under wraps that “no one at the studio knew. My face had been blurred out” in early versions of the film.

At the London premiere this year, Taylor-Joy shocked movie fans by walking the carpet, revealing her role. “I asked Denis to tell the cast beforehand,” she says. “I said, ‘I can’t just show up. Please don’t do that to me.'”

Villeneuve is all for it. “Shooting with Anya in Africa was nothing short of magical,” he says. “Her generosity, candor and passion truly moved me. I can’t wait to go back on Arrakis with her.”

If there’s a “Dune” Part Three, Taylor-Joy will find her schedule even more packed than it is now. But before she has time to return to outer space, or possibly to Furiosa — if Miller’s latest futuristic vision hits big — she has plans of her own. With or without a driver’s license, she sees herself behind a new set of wheels. “I know the exact kind of car I’m going to get,” she says. “Ferrari Dino, in yellow.”

Taylor-Joy speeding down Sunset with the top down in a canary-colored vintage Ferrari would certainly attract paparazzi, but she’s not going to let that stop her. “My agents, my friends are like, ‘This is the dumbest thing in the world,'” she says. “I’m like, ‘I’m attracted to this car. I need to have this car. I don’t care.'” Soon, all of Los Angeles might see this freshly minted movie star hit the gas and go, go, go.

Styling: Ryan Hastings; Makeup: Georgie Eisdell/The Wall Group; Hair: Gregory Russell/The Wall Group; Manicure: Diem Truong/ Star Touch Agency/ Dior Le Baume; Shell Dress: Cheney Chan; Feather Top: Dior

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