---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 83.22"
title: "33"
number: "83.22"
heading: "Visibility of lights (Rule 22)."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/83.22"
---

# §83.22. Visibility of lights (Rule 22).


The lights prescribed in these Rules ([Subpart C](/cfr/33/subpartC.md)) shall have an intensity as specified in Annex I to these Rules ([33 CFR part 84](/cfr/33/part84.md)), so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges:

- (a) **In a vessel of 50 meters or more in length—**
  - (i) A masthead light, 6 miles;
  - (ii) A sidelight, 3 miles;
  - (iii) A sternlight, 3 miles;
  - (iv) A towing light, 3 miles;
  - (v) A white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 3 miles; and
  - (vi) **A special flashing light, 2 miles.**
- (b) **In a vessel of 12 meters or more in length but less than 50 meters in length—**
- (i) A masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 meters, 3 miles;
- (ii) A sidelight, 2 miles;
- (iii) A sternlight, 2 miles;
- (iv) A towing light, 2 miles;
- (v) A white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles; and
- (vi) **A special flashing light, 2 miles.**
- (c) **In a vessel of less than 12 meters in length—**
- (i) A masthead light, 2 miles;
- (ii) A sidelight, 1 mile;
- (iii) A sternlight, 2 miles;
- (iv) A towing light, 2 miles;
- (v) A white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles; and
- (vi) **A special flashing light, 2 miles.**
- (d) **In an inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or objects being towed—**
- (i) **A white all-round light, 3 miles.**
- (ii) [Reserved]

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 37912, July 2, 2014, as amended by USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 68621, Nov. 18, 2014; USCG-2020-0304, 85 FR 58277, Sept. 18, 2020]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 2071; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.

### Source

Source: USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 37912, July 2, 2014, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 37912, July 2, 2014, as amended by USCG-2012-0102, 79 FR 68621, Nov. 18, 2014; USCG-2020-0304, 85 FR 58277, Sept. 18, 2020]