Side-lights

1824 September 4: The Netherland introduced regulations specifying that steamships on inland waterways should carry white sidelights.
1834: The Dublin Steam Packet Co. adopted the use of a red light on the port side and a white on the starboard side.
1836: H.M. Steam Packets on the Milford Station were using a red light of the starboard bow and a green on the port bow following a proposal by Captain D.W. Evans.
1840 October 30: The Trinity House issued rules that steamships passing in the night should put their helm to port to pass on the "larboard side". The red light was assigned to this side.
1845 December 9: The Dutch regulations were amended to specify coloured sidelights.
1846 June 6: Commander Beavis reports that the H.M. Packets at Liverpool had for some time been using a white light under the crosstrees below the foot of the topsail; a red light in the port paddle box; a clear white light in the starboard paddle box.
1847 January: A British Act stipulated carrying white top lights on steamers at night "only inner half of 20 miles from the coast, men-of-war excepted and ships not registered in England".
1847 December 13: The British Admiralty issued instructions that the steam packets should carry a white masthead light and green and red bow lights.
1848 July 11: An English Act stipulated that all Admiraly steamers should carry a red light to port and a green light on starboard.
1849: The British system was adopted by France and Sweden.
1850 January 29: The Dutch regulations were extended to all steamers in "much frequented fairways".
1850: The Mercantile Marine Act empowered the Admiralty to issue instructions to all British steamers regarding carrying of sidelights.
1853[8?] September 30: Similar regulations were applied to sailing ships.
1863 June 1: A French decree regulated the use of lights to avoid collision. This became the foundation for the International agreements to follow.
1885: The first International regulations regarding the carrying of lights.

References:

Senior, William: The beginning of side-lights.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 3 (1913), pp 257-264.
Senior, William: Sidelights.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 4 (1914), pp 124-125.
Thompson, Edgar K.: Port and Starboard Lights.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 39 (1953); p 309.
"W,E,M," & "R.C.A." & van Nouhuys: Port and Starboard Lights.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 38 (1952); p 332.

Updated 1996-10-11 by Lars Bruzelius

The Maritime History Virtual Archives.