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

Introduction

The List of Lights and Fog Signals in paper format is a reference publication for identifying lighthouses, lights, lighted buoys, floating marks and sound signals used for the safety of navigation. It complements the information provided by nautical charts by giving detailed characteristics of navigational aids encountered along coastlines, near ports and on major maritime routes.

A List of Lights is particularly important for night navigation, harbour approaches and coastal navigation in areas where several lights may be visible simultaneously. The colour of a light is not always sufficient to identify it: its characteristic, period, range, elevation, geographical position and supporting structure are also decisive elements.

In this category, paper documentation is primarily represented by the ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals, published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. These publications are organised into regional volumes covering the different seas and oceans of the world. ADMIRALTY publications describe more than 90,000 fixed light structures of navigational significance.

By contrast, the current Shom Books of Lights and Fog Signals L1 and L2 are available exclusively in digital PDF format. The present paper category therefore mainly concerns international publications available in printed form.

What is a paper List of Lights used for?

A List of Lights enables the navigator to quickly find the characteristics of a navigational aid observed from the vessel or located along the planned route.

Depending on the publication, information includes:

• the international number of the light;

• the name or location of the installation;

• geographical coordinates;

• the light characteristic;

• the colour of the light;

• the period;

• the intensity, where stated;

• the elevation of the light;

• the range in nautical miles;

• a description of the structure;

• information concerning fog signals;

• certain lighted floating marks;

• information used to calculate or assess geographical and luminous ranges.

The geographical arrangement makes the information easier to find when preparing a route or during navigation. The paper format also has the advantage of being directly available at the chart table without depending on a computer, internet connection or battery.

Understanding the characteristics of a maritime light

A maritime light is defined by a combination of precise characteristics.

It may be:

• fixed;

• flashing;

• single-flashing;

• group-flashing;

• isophase;

• occulting;

• group-occulting;

• of a special characteristic.

Colour is also an important element: white, red, green or another colour depending on the function of the light.

The light characteristic is nevertheless often the decisive element when distinguishing between two nearby lights. A light flashing once every ten seconds, a six-second isophase light and a group of three flashes do not produce the same visual signature.

The navigator can therefore observe a light from the vessel, estimate its position and compare its characteristics with those listed in the publication.

Fog signals

Fog signals complement visual aids to navigation when weather conditions make observation difficult or impossible.

In fog, lighthouses and buoys may become invisible while sound signals continue to provide information about the presence of a maritime signalling installation.

The List of Lights can identify:

• the type of sound signal;

• its location;

• its characteristic;

• its frequency or rhythm;

• the installation with which it is associated.

This information is particularly useful near harbour approaches, headlands and areas subject to frequent fog.

Knowledge of fog signals must naturally be combined with an understanding of the navigation rules applicable in restricted visibility.

Advantages of the paper format on board

Even in the age of electronic navigation, a printed publication retains practical advantages.

On board, a paper publication can be:

• consulted immediately;

• used without electrical power;

• handled at the chart table;

• annotated during route preparation;

• shared between several crew members;

• used as an independent reference alongside electronic systems.

The paper format is also useful when preparing a passage. The navigator can review the areas corresponding to the intended route and identify the main lighthouses, lights and fog signals in advance.

For professional navigation, it can also form part of a broader documentation system including charts, nautical publications, Notices to Mariners and onboard navigation procedures.

ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals

The ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals is the principal collection of paper List of Lights represented in this category.

ADMIRALTY organises the documentation into 15 regional volumes, from A to Q, making the publications easier to handle and organise on board. Each volume covers a specific maritime region and describes navigational aids of significance to mariners.

The volumes contain information relating to:

• lighthouses;

• harbour lights;

• lighted buoys;

• lighted floating marks;

• fog signals;

• certain offshore installations;

• specific lighted structures.

The publications provide, in particular, the international number, name and position, light characteristics, elevation, range and description of the structure.

English Channel, North Sea and French coast

For navigators operating in the English Channel and North Sea, the relevant ADMIRALTY volume covers the British Isles and the northern coast of France.

The area includes approaches to Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dieppe, Le Havre and Cherbourg, as well as the British coastline and the numerous shipping routes of the Channel.

The proximity of the French and British coasts makes accurate identification of lights particularly important. In some areas, several installations may be visible simultaneously, especially near ports, channels and high-traffic areas.

ADMIRALTY charts, Shom charts and, depending on the area, products from national hydrographic offices provide complementary cartographic support for this light information.

North Sea and Scandinavia

The North Sea contains a dense network of lights and navigational aids because of the intensity of maritime traffic and the presence of numerous ports, channels, shoals and offshore installations.

Navigators may encounter the approaches to Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, as well as British and Scandinavian ports.

The ADMIRALTY volumes covering these areas also provide information for navigation along the Norwegian coast within the relevant publication coverage. Light information can be used together with ADMIRALTY charts, NV Charts or official national hydrographic charts depending on the area.

Atlantic Ocean and ocean passages

During navigation in the North-East Atlantic, a List of Lights becomes particularly important when approaching land after an offshore passage.

For example, a navigator returning from the Azores to France can prepare the identification of the principal lights encountered when approaching Brittany, the Gironde or the Spanish and Portuguese coasts.

Ports such as Brest, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bayonne, Bilbao, Santander, La Coruña, Vigo, Lisbon and Porto are associated with maritime environments where coastal and harbour lights play an important navigational role.

Depending on the area, the information can be compared with ADMIRALTY, Shom, NV Charts and national hydrographic office charts.

Western Mediterranean

The Western Mediterranean also has an extensive network of lighthouses and coastal lights.

Navigators may need to identify installations around Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, Genoa, Livorno, Cagliari, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca or Gibraltar.

In this region, night navigation may involve simultaneous observation of coastal lights, harbour lights, channel lights and lighted marks.

Comparing the position, light characteristic and range stated in the List of Lights helps reduce the risk of incorrect identification.

Depending on the country and navigation area, ADMIRALTY, NV Charts, Shom and official Mediterranean hydrographic charts can be used alongside this information.

Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea and other regions

ADMIRALTY volumes also cover international areas such as the Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, South Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.

This regional organisation is particularly suitable for navigators undertaking international voyages or ocean passages.

A vessel sailing towards the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean or the Pacific can therefore carry the volume corresponding to the region being navigated.

The paper List of Lights then becomes an international reference for finding the characteristics of navigational aids, regardless of differences in language or presentation between countries.

Preparing for night navigation

The List of Lights is particularly useful before a night passage.

When preparing a route, the navigator can:

1. identify the principal lighted marks expected along the route;

2. record their positions;

3. note their light characteristics;

4. check their ranges;

5. identify any fog signals;

6. identify areas containing several nearby lights;

7. compare this information with the nautical chart;

8. prepare the principal identification sequences for use during the passage.

This preparation turns the observation of coastal lights into a structured navigation method.

Identifying a light during navigation

Imagine a sailing yacht navigating off the Brittany coast at night.

The crew sees a white light to port. To determine its identity, they can compare:

• its bearing;

• its estimated position;

• its colour;

• its characteristic;

• its period;

• its range;

• the apparent height of the structure;

• the characteristics of the coastline.

The List of Lights can then be used to identify installations matching these characteristics.

The identification becomes more reliable when several pieces of information agree: position on the chart, bearing, light characteristic and geographical surroundings.

Importance of keeping information up to date

Navigational aids can change. A light may be moved, modified, discontinued, replaced or temporarily unavailable.

ADMIRALTY publications are therefore supported by information allowing them to be kept up to date. ADMIRALTY Notices to Mariners regularly publish changes concerning the List of Lights. Current ADMIRALTY notices include, for example, changes in status, cancellations and modifications to the characteristics of individual lights.

It is therefore essential to use an edition appropriate to the period of navigation and to take all applicable corrections into account.

Paper List of Lights and digital navigation documentation

Paper and digital formats serve complementary purposes.

Paper provides navigation information independently of electronic equipment, while digital solutions facilitate searching and updating.

For Shom, this distinction is particularly important: the current L1 and L2 Books of Lights and Fog Signals are exclusively digital, whereas ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals remain available in paper and digital formats.

ADMIRALTY's digital equivalent, the ADMIRALTY Digital List of Lights (ADLL), provides the same detailed information as the paper publications while offering electronic searching and weekly updates.

The appropriate choice therefore depends on the navigation area, the vessel's documentation system and the navigator's operational requirements.

Conclusion

The List of Lights and Fog Signals in paper format is essential technical documentation for preparing and conducting coastal, night-time and international navigation.

It enables navigators to identify lighthouses, lights, lighted buoys, floating marks and fog signals using precise information about their position, characteristic, range, elevation and structure.

For international navigation, the ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals provides coverage organised by major maritime regions: English Channel, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Pacific and other areas.

The List of Lights does not replace a nautical chart: it complements it. The chart shows the navigational aid in its geographical environment, while the List of Lights provides the characteristics required for identification.

For both recreational sailors and professional mariners, this documentation is therefore a valuable tool for route preparation, night-time identification of lights and structured understanding of maritime signalling.

FAQ – List of Lights and Fog Signals in Paper Format

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

It is used to identify lighthouses, lights, lighted buoys, floating marks and fog signals through their technical and geographical characteristics.

What is the difference between a paper and digital List of Lights?

The reference content depends on the publication, but the paper format allows information to be consulted independently of electronic equipment. Digital versions generally make searching and updating easier.

Does Shom still publish a paper Book of Lights?

No. The current Shom Books of Lights and Fog Signals L1 and L2 are available exclusively in digital PDF format.

Which Lists of Lights are available in paper format?

The paper format in this category mainly concerns the ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals, published in several regional volumes.

How many ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals volumes are there?

ADMIRALTY currently organises the paper collection into 15 regional volumes, identified from A to Q, covering different international maritime areas.

What information is contained in an ADMIRALTY List of Lights and Fog Signals?

It includes, among other things, the international light number, position, name, light characteristic, intensity where available, elevation, range and description of the structure.

Do paper Lists of Lights include fog signals?

Yes. The List of Lights and Fog Signals publications also contain information about sound signals associated with maritime signalling installations.

Does a List of Lights replace a nautical chart?

No. The two publications are complementary. The chart shows the position and environment of the light, while the List of Lights provides its detailed characteristics.

Is a List of Lights useful for night navigation?

Yes. It allows observed lights to be compared with their published characteristics and is particularly useful for coastal night navigation.

Which ports may be covered by these publications?

Depending on the area, publications can cover approaches to ports such as Dunkirk, Calais, Cherbourg, Brest, La Rochelle, Rotterdam, Portsmouth, Gibraltar, Marseille, Barcelona and Palma, as well as many other international ports.

Which seas and oceans are covered?

Depending on the ADMIRALTY volume, coverage may include the English Channel, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, South Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific.

Can an ADMIRALTY List of Lights be used with a Shom chart?

Yes. The publications have complementary functions. For navigation in France or the English Channel, List of Lights information can be compared with the positions and characteristics shown on Shom or ADMIRALTY charts.

Why must an up-to-date edition be used?

Because navigational aids can change. Lights may be modified, discontinued, replaced or have their status changed. ADMIRALTY Notices to Mariners provide information about these changes and help maintain publications up to date.

Are paper Lists of Lights only intended for professional mariners?

No. They are useful for recreational sailors, offshore navigators, professional crews, fishermen, naval personnel, maritime schools and training centres.

What is the difference between luminous range and geographical range?

Luminous range depends mainly on the intensity of the light and atmospheric conditions, while geographical range depends principally on the elevation of the light, the observer's height of eye and the curvature of the Earth. ADMIRALTY publications provide information and tables to help assess these parameters.