List of Lights and Fog Signals – Lighthouses, Buoys and Navigational Aids

Introduction

The List of Lights and Fog Signals is an essential reference for identifying lights and sound signals encountered at sea, along the coast, near ports, in channels and in regulated navigation areas. It complements the information provided by nautical charts by giving detailed descriptions of lighthouses, lights, lighted buoys, floating lights and fog signals used by navigators.

A maritime light is not identified by its colour alone. To identify it with certainty, the navigator must be able to interpret its characteristic, period, range, elevation, geographical position and, where necessary, its associated sound signal. The List of Lights provides precisely this information and allows it to be compared with observations made from the vessel.

Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop offers the main reference publications dedicated to lights and fog signals, including publications from the Shom – French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service and the ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals. These publications cover the French coast as well as major international maritime routes.

What is a List of Lights and Fog Signals used for?

A List of Lights is used to determine the identity and characteristics of a light or sound navigational aid.

It provides information such as:

• the national and international number of the light;

• the name and geographical location of the installation;

• its geographical coordinates;

• the type of light or signal;

• the colour of the light;

• its characteristic or rhythm;

• its period;

• the elevation of the light;

• its luminous or geographical range;

• a description of the structure;

• the presence of a fog signal, where applicable;

• information required to distinguish between several nearby lights.

This information is particularly useful when several lighthouses or buoys are visible at the same time.

The Shom explains that its Books of Lights and Fog Signals list maritime signalling establishments carrying lights or fog signals in geographical order corresponding to the route followed by the navigator. They also include indexes and concordance tables between international and French numbering systems.

Understanding the characteristics of a maritime light

One of the main challenges of night navigation is distinguishing between several lights with similar characteristics.

A light may be:

• fixed;

• occulting;

• flashing;

• isophase;

• group flashing;

• group occulting;

• of a special characteristic;

• white, red, green or another colour depending on its function.

The light sequence is particularly important.

For example, a light characterised by several flashes followed by a period of darkness is identified differently from a light producing a single flash every few seconds. The navigator therefore compares the observed characteristic with the information provided in the List of Lights.

This method is particularly valuable when visibility is reduced, when the coastline contains several lights or when the navigator needs to confirm their position.

Lighthouses, lights and buoys

The term “lighthouse” is often used generally to describe a navigational light. Technically, however, navigational installations can take many different forms.

A lighthouse is generally a substantial structure located at a prominent coastal position or near a maritime hazard.

A light may be installed on a tower, building, pier, breakwater or other structure.

A lighted buoy may indicate a hazard, mark a channel or guide vessels towards a harbour entrance.

Some lights are also floating. International publications may include lighted floating marks, pontoon lights, offshore structures and other floating navigational aids.

The navigator must therefore be able to identify not only the light itself, but also the structure carrying it.

Fog signals

Fog signals are particularly important navigational aids when visual references become difficult to distinguish.

A fog signal is a sound signal emitted in conditions of reduced visibility. It may be associated with a lighthouse, buoy or another maritime signalling installation.

The List of Lights gives the characteristics required to identify the relevant signal.

During navigation, it may be necessary to distinguish between different sound signals according to:

• their rhythm;

• the number of sounds;

• their duration;

• the interval between sequences;

• their geographical position.

This information is particularly important near headlands, ports, channels and areas presenting navigational hazards.

Night navigation and identification of lights

The List of Lights is particularly useful during night navigation.

For example, a sailing yacht approaching the Brittany coast after sunset may observe several lights on the horizon: a shore light, a channel light and possibly a buoy farther offshore.

Identification should not rely on colour alone.

The navigator can compare:

1. the approximate position of the light;

2. its colour;

3. its characteristic;

4. its period;

5. its apparent elevation;

6. its range;

7. the configuration of the coastline;

8. the information shown on the nautical chart.

The List of Lights then provides additional information to confirm the identification.

Main geographical areas covered

Lists of lights are organised geographically to make information easier to find.

For the French coast, publications cover areas including the English Channel, the Iroise Sea, the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean.

In the English Channel, navigators may need to identify lights around Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dieppe, Le Havre, Cherbourg, Granville and Saint-Malo.

In Brittany and western France, the areas around Brest, Ouessant, Concarneau, Lorient, Belle-Île, La Rochelle and the Gironde estuary also contain numerous navigational lights and signalling installations.

In the Mediterranean, Lists of Lights may be used when approaching Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Ajaccio, Bastia and Bonifacio, as well as the French, Italian, Spanish or Corsican coasts depending on the publication concerned.

For each area, information about lights should be interpreted together with the appropriate nautical chart.

Shom Lists of Lights: metropolitan France and overseas territories

The Shom is the French national hydrographic and oceanographic service and provides the official hydrographic reference for maritime signalling within its areas of responsibility.

The current Books of Lights include:

• Lights and Fog Signals L1, covering metropolitan France;

• Lights and Fog Signals L2, covering overseas territories and foreign areas.

The current Shom Books of Lights are supplied exclusively in digital PDF format. L1 describes maritime signalling establishments in metropolitan France, while L2 covers overseas territories and foreign areas included in the publication.

The overseas coverage includes very different maritime environments, from the tropical waters of the Caribbean to territories in the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals

For international navigation, the ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals is an important reference collection.

ADMIRALTY divides this documentation into regional volumes covering the world's principal maritime areas. The publications describe the characteristics of lights and fog signals, their position, elevation, range and supporting structure. The collection covers more than 90,000 fixed light structures.

Coverage includes:

• the British Isles and northern French coast;

• the North Sea;

• the Baltic Sea;

• the eastern Atlantic;

• the western Mediterranean;

• the eastern Mediterranean;

• the Black Sea;

• the Indian Ocean;

• the Red Sea;

• the South Atlantic;

• the Caribbean;

• the Pacific;

• the coasts of North America.

The ADMIRALTY collection includes, for example, regional volumes covering the western Mediterranean and the western Atlantic and Caribbean areas.

Lights, nautical charts and maritime publications

The List of Lights does not replace a nautical chart. It provides complementary descriptive and technical information.

The chart shows the lighthouse, buoy or light in its geographical environment, while the List of Lights provides detailed characteristics of the signal.

This complementarity is particularly important for harbour approaches.

When approaching Brest, for example, the navigator can combine information from a Shom nautical chart with data from the List of Lights. For navigation in the English Channel or North Sea, ADMIRALTY information can be used together with ADMIRALTY charts or the products of national hydrographic offices. In other regions, NV Charts, Shom or ADMIRALTY charts may provide appropriate cartographic support depending on the area.

The objective is always to compare several consistent navigational sources rather than identifying a light from a single piece of information.

Using the List of Lights when preparing a route

The List of Lights can be consulted before departure to identify the main lighted navigation marks expected along a route.

For a coastal passage between La Rochelle and Brittany, for example, the navigator can identify the lights corresponding to the planned route and note their principal characteristics.

This preparation makes it possible to identify in advance:

• major lighthouses;

• approach lights;

• lighted buoys;

• areas containing several closely spaced lights;

• fog signals;

• characteristics useful for night-time identification.

Advance preparation is particularly useful for coastal passages involving several changes of course.

Professional use

Lists of lights are not limited to recreational sailing.

They are also useful for:

• merchant shipping;

• commercial fishing;

• naval navigation;

• offshore navigation;

• maritime training;

• passage planning;

• vessel operations near ports;

• navigation in high-density traffic areas.

For professional vessels, the quality and currency of navigational information are particularly important. The Shom identifies knowledge of buoyage, ports, approaches, hazards and changes in the maritime environment as important elements of navigational safety.

Updating light information

The characteristics of a light may change: its characteristic may be modified, its range altered, its position changed, its equipment replaced, the installation temporarily extinguished, or a new navigational aid established.

The documentation must therefore be kept up to date.

Shom publications are subject to corrections distributed through Groupes d'Avis aux Navigateurs (GAN). The Shom also states that its Books of Lights and Fog Signals are periodically reissued and corrected to maintain up-to-date navigational information.

ADMIRALTY uses ADMIRALTY Notices to Mariners, with regular updates designed to keep publications current. ADMIRALTY states that weekly Notices to Mariners help users maintain their publications with the latest safety-critical information.

Paper or digital List of Lights

Depending on the publisher and geographical area, information about lights may be available in different formats.

The current Shom L1 and L2 Books of Lights are supplied exclusively in digital PDF format.

ADMIRALTY also provides a digital version, the ADMIRALTY Digital List of Lights (ADLL). It contains the information from the corresponding publications and provides electronic searching together with regular updates. ADMIRALTY states that ADLL covers more than 90,000 individual fixed light structures and provides weekly updating capabilities.

For navigators, the appropriate format therefore depends on the navigation area, type of vessel, onboard documentation system and applicable requirements.

Conclusion

The List of Lights and Fog Signals is an essential reference for understanding and identifying light and sound navigational aids.

Lighthouse, harbour light, lighted buoy, floating light or fog signal: each installation has precise characteristics that allow the navigator to identify it. The light characteristic, colour, position, elevation, range and, where necessary, sound signal are all elements that help confirm what is observed.

For metropolitan France and French areas of responsibility, the Shom publications provide official information organised geographically. For international navigation, the ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals provides worldwide coverage organised into regional volumes.

Used together with nautical charts, navigational information, buoyage data and Notices to Mariners, the List of Lights helps prepare night navigation, identify coastal landmarks and better understand maritime signalling encountered along the route.

FAQ – List of Lights and Fog Signals

What is a List of Lights and Fog Signals used for?

It is used to identify lighthouses, lights, lighted buoys and fog signals by providing their technical characteristics: position, colour, characteristic, period, elevation, range and description.

What is the difference between a lighthouse and a lighted buoy?

A lighthouse is generally a substantial and prominent structure, while a lighted buoy is usually used to mark a hazard, channel, specific area or harbour entrance. The term “light” more broadly refers to the light signal itself.

How do you identify a maritime light at night?

The navigator compares its position, colour, characteristic, period and range with the information in the List of Lights and with the data shown on the nautical chart.

What is a fog signal?

It is a sound signal intended to provide navigational information when visibility is reduced. It may be associated with a lighthouse or another maritime signalling installation.

Which Shom publication should be used for lights?

The Shom distinguishes in particular between the Lights and Fog Signals L1, covering metropolitan France, and L2, covering overseas territories and foreign areas.

Are the Shom Books of Lights available digitally?

Yes. The current L1 and L2 publications are supplied exclusively in digital PDF format.

What is the ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals?

It is the ADMIRALTY's international reference collection for lights and fog signals. It is organised into regional volumes and covers more than 90,000 fixed light structures.

What is the difference between the Shom Book of Lights and the ADMIRALTY List of Lights?

The Shom provides the official reference for areas within its hydrographic responsibility, while ADMIRALTY provides an international system organised into regional volumes.

Does the List of Lights replace a nautical chart?

No. The two documents are complementary. The nautical chart shows navigational aids in their geographical environment, while the List of Lights provides their detailed characteristics.

Are Lists of Lights useful for recreational sailing?

Yes. They are particularly useful for coastal night navigation, harbour approaches and passages involving numerous lighted navigation marks.

Are Lists of Lights also used by professional mariners?

Yes. They are used in merchant shipping, commercial fishing, naval navigation, maritime training and passage planning.

Why should an up-to-date List of Lights be used?

Because the characteristics of navigational aids can change. An installation may be modified, moved, replaced or temporarily unavailable. Corrections and Notices to Mariners help keep the information current.

Which maritime areas are covered by Lists of Lights?

Depending on the publication, coverage can include the English Channel, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Pacific Ocean and many other regions worldwide.

Which nautical chart publishers can be used together with Lists of Lights?

Depending on the navigation area, light information can be used together with charts from Shom, ADMIRALTY, NV Charts or the relevant national hydrographic office.