Maryland Boating Certification Practice Exam

What does it indicate if you see a red, green, and white light at night?

1. You are docked at a marina.

2. You are approaching another vessel head on and must give way.

3. You are in a no-wake zone.

4. You are operating a vessel in poor visibility.

The correct answer is: You are approaching another vessel head on and must give way.

Seeing a combination of red, green, and white lights at night suggests that you are approaching another vessel head-on and that you must give way. In nautical navigation, the red and green lights are used to indicate the port (left) and starboard (right) sides of a vessel, respectively. The white light signifies the vessel’s stern or, in certain cases, an all-round white light indicating the presence of another vessel. This arrangement of lights confirms that another boat is approaching, providing crucial information to determine the correct navigation actions to take. In such situations, the rule of the road requires you to yield to the other vessel, as both boats will be navigating in the same direction, and understanding their orientation through this lighting defines the right of way. It's essential for safe navigation at night to recognize this color pattern so that you can operate your vessel safely and avoid potential collisions. The other options do not accurately represent the meaning of the light configuration. Being docked in a marina wouldn’t display such lights, nor would a no-wake zone or poor visibility situations specifically signify this light combination.