What is a critical step to ensure safety when operating a vessel at night?

A critical step to ensure safety when operating a vessel at night is to ensure that navigation lights are functioning. Navigation lights are essential for indicating the position, heading, and size of a vessel to others on the water, especially in low visibility conditions. They help prevent collisions and ensure that everyone can see and recognize where your vessel is located and how it is oriented.

Having operational navigation lights allows for safe interactions with other vessels and helps you to see the layout of the waterway, including any potential hazards. This practice is not only about complying with legal requirements but is also a fundamental aspect of safe boating at night.

Other options do not contribute positively to safety. Traveling at maximum speed increases the risk of not being able to react in time to obstacles or other vessels. Using only sidelights is insufficient because a complete set of navigation lights is necessary for full visibility. Navigating without any extra assistance, such as crew members or navigational tools, can lead to dangerous situations, especially when visibility is compromised. Thus, ensuring that navigation lights are functional is paramount for night-time boating safety.