The sidelight beam on a small vessel underway (under 20 meters) is how many degrees per side?

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Multiple Choice

The sidelight beam on a small vessel underway (under 20 meters) is how many degrees per side?

Explanation:
The sidelight on a vessel underway has an arc of 112.5 degrees on each side. This means each side shows its color (red on the port side, green on the starboard side) over 112.5 degrees of the horizon, centered on that side of the vessel. This specific span helps other vessels gauge your direction and relative position. Why this is the best choice: 112.5 degrees per side is the standard visibility arc for sidelights, including on small vessels under 20 meters. A narrower 90 degrees wouldn’t meet the requirements, 135 degrees describes the stern light’s range, and 360 degrees would imply an all-around light, which sidelights are not.

The sidelight on a vessel underway has an arc of 112.5 degrees on each side. This means each side shows its color (red on the port side, green on the starboard side) over 112.5 degrees of the horizon, centered on that side of the vessel. This specific span helps other vessels gauge your direction and relative position.

Why this is the best choice: 112.5 degrees per side is the standard visibility arc for sidelights, including on small vessels under 20 meters. A narrower 90 degrees wouldn’t meet the requirements, 135 degrees describes the stern light’s range, and 360 degrees would imply an all-around light, which sidelights are not.

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