What is the difference between masthead light and head light on a ship
Marine masthead light and marine head light belong to marine navigation signal light, and both of them are installed on the mast of ships. Although they have similar name and function, they are different in structure, installation position and application.
Overview
Masthead light Head light
Masthead light is installed above the fore and aft lines of the ship, emitting white light within a horizontal arc of 225°. Specifically mounted in front of the foremast and mainmast, when the length of the ship is less than 45.75 meters, only the mainmast has a masthead light. When both fore and aft masthead lights are present, they must be at least 13.71 meters apart fore and aft, and 4.57 meters vertically. The lowest masthead light must be at least 6.1 meters above the waterline. The light shines forward with a horizontal angle of 112.5° from the bow to each side. During night-time or poor visibility conditions, the mast light not only indicates the position and size of the vessel but also assists the crew in understanding the positions and movements of other vessels, helping to avoid collisions.
Head light is installed at the top of the mast, with a horizontal illumination angle of 360°. The lamp shade color can be various, including green, red, white, yellow, blue, purple, etc. Head light is applied to the ships as lamp signal when day and night navigation.
