The overall arrangement of submarine lights is very unusual. The lights may differ from submarine to submarine depending upon the country to which it belongs. Their vulnerability to collision when proceeding on the surface and the fact that some submarines are nuclear powered dictates particular caution when approaching them.

However, important to note that nearly all submarines are fitted with an amber quick-flashing light situated above or abaft the main steaming light. This additional light is for use as an aid to identification in narrow waters and areas of dense traffic. Most of the submarines will normally burn this identification light under the above conditions and when entering or leaving harbor at night.

Submarines may have 5 primary navigation lights, though not all are used on the surface while in open ocean. The 3 primary lights are the Rudder (white light), Port (Red) and Starboard (Green). But these lights are normally very difficult to identify as they are very close to water surface. In port or at anchor offshore, a Bow light on the Bow mast is lit at night - it isn't used while underway.