Port side (left) running lights are Red and Starboard side (right) running lights are Green. They are used to give a person a visual picture of which side of the vessel they are looking at in darkness or reduced visibility . Depending on the situation they will determine who has the right of way in a meeting or crossing situation. If you see a red running light at night crossing or meeting you most likely are the give-way vessel and do not have the right of way. If you see green you most likely are the stand-on vessel and have the right of way. This is not true in EVERY scenario.
on the side
The left side of a boat has red lights at night. These lights are part of the navigation lighting system used to indicate the direction a vessel is facing. The right side of the boat displays green lights. Together, these colored lights help to prevent collisions by allowing other vessels to determine the orientation and movement of the boat.
Another boat is approaching you. The red light is their port side and the green light is their starboard side. The port side is left.
Another boat is approaching you. The red light is their port side and the green light is their starboard side. The port side is left.
they go next to the propellar on the motor
The red and green lights on a boat are side lights and assist in determining the direction the boat is facing. Red lights are on the port, or left side, while green lights are on the starboard, or right side. If you see only one side light, you are looking at that side of the boat. If you see both lights at the same time, that means that the boat is either headed towards you or away from you. If the red light is to the right, the boat is coming towards you (Red-Right-Returning). If the green light is to the right, the boat is going away from you. See the associated link for US Coast Guard Navigational Rules of the Road
At night, the red and green lights on another boat indicate its direction of travel. A red light on the left (port side) and a green light on the right (starboard side) mean that the boat is facing you. If you see only one of these colored lights, it indicates that the boat is moving away from you. This helps determine the other vessel's heading and ensures safe navigation.
You're on that boat's right ("starboard") side, and the other boat is not lying at anchor.
The white, red, and green lights on a boat are part of its navigation lighting system. The red light is displayed on the port side (left) of the boat, while the green light is on the starboard side (right). The white light, often positioned at the stern or as a masthead light, serves to indicate the boat's presence and direction to other vessels. Together, these lights help in determining a boat's orientation and movement at night or in low visibility conditions.
If you are on the boat facing forward, The red light should be on the left (port) side, shining out forward and to the left. It should NOT be visible from directly behind or from the right side of the boat. Both red and green lights should ONLY be visible from directly in front of the boat.
This boat must have a white mast head light & a white stern light. Also, it must have a green running light on the right (starboard) side of the boat & a red running light on the left (port) side of the boat. The red & green lights may be mounted on the sides of the boat (international regs.) or nose of the boat if the boat is basically used on rivers or lakes in the U.S. (called: river navigation lights).
The green and white lights on a boat are very important for traveling at night. These lights indicate which end of the boat is which.