The American Boat & Yacht Council yesterday announced that the Coast Guard has accepted its standard, ABYC C-5, Construction and Testing of Electric Navigation Lights, as an equivalent to UL 1104. The acceptance allows manufacturers and boatbuilders a modern way to meet compliance standards, particularly for boats larger than 65 feet.
Those boats must use navigation lights that meet UL 1104, or another standard specified by the Coast Guard. The current edition of UL 1104 was produced in 1998. Since then, the technology used in navigation lights has changed.
Specifically, UL 1104 was not devised to address LED navigation lights, and various tests it requires are not applicable to LED technology. Additionally, LEDs present different failure modes that are not addressed in UL 1104 testing.
“ABYC C-5 is a technology-forward standard that reflects how navigation lights are built today,” Craig Scholten, ABYC vice president of standards and compliance, said in a statement. “This is what success looks like when industry and regulators work together.”
ABYC C-5 addresses this gap with updated testing requirements and international alignment. It applies to boats of all sizes and includes standards for both incandescent and LED navigation lights — covering visibility, color, service life, electromagnetic compatibility, materials and labeling.
