Where can a stern light be seen from?

A stern light is a navigation light located at the rear of a vessel, designed to help indicate the vessel's position to others on the water. The primary function of this light is to be visible from behind and nearly from the sides of the vessel, ensuring that vessels approaching from the rear can see it clearly. This is crucial for avoiding collisions, especially in low visibility conditions.

While a stern light may emit some light visible from the sides, its primary purpose is to signal to vessels approaching from directly behind or slightly to the side. This is why the most accurate description of where a stern light can be seen is from behind or nearly behind the vessel. Other navigation lights, like side lights or a masthead light, have different visibility ranges, which may include views from the front and the sides, but those do not apply to the stern light specifically.