Lights and Shapes: Definitions

10/11/2017 Lights, buoys - aids to navigation.
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Charterguide Masthead light

A white light
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placed over the
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centreline of the
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vessel showing an
unbroken light
over an arc of the
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and so fixed as to
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show the light
from right ahead
to 22.5° abaft the
beam on either
side of the vessel.
Sidelight
means a green
light on the
starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing an
unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5° and so fixed as to
show the light from right ahead to 22.5° abaft the beam on its
respective side. In a vessel of less than 20 metres in length the
sidelights may be combined in one lantern carried on the fore and aft
centreline of the vessel.
Sternlight
means a white light placed as nearly as practicable at the stern
showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 135° and so
fixed as to show the light 67.5° from right aft on each side of the
vessel.
Towing light
means a yellow light having the same characteristics as the
sternlight.
All-round light
means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of
360°.
Flashing light
means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 120
flashes or more per minute.
Legend
White light
Yellow light
Green light
http://www.sailingissues.com/navcourse10.html 1/20
Red light
Yellow flashing light
Optional white light
Power-driven vessel underway

A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:
a masthead light forward;

a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one;
except that a vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be
obliged to exhibit such light but may do so;
sidelights;
a sternlight.
Power driven vessel underway, longer than 50 m
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Power driven vessel underway, shorter than 50 m
Sailing vessels underway and vessels

under oars
A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:
sidelights;
a sternlight.
In a sailing vessel of less than 20 metres in length the lights may be

combined in one lantern carried at or near the top of the mast where it
can best be seen.
A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights, exhibit at or

near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round
lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but
these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined
lantern.
A sailing vessel of less than 7 metres in length shall, if practicable,

exhibit the lights prescribed above, but if she does not, she shall have
ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light
which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for
sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an
electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be
exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
Sailing vessel 1
Sailing vessel 2
Sailing vessel 3
Sailing vessel 4
Sailing and Motoring

A vessel proceeding under sail which has her engine running shall
exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex
downwards.
She shall exibit lights according to a power-driven vessel.
Sailing and motoring
Day sign
Anchoring
Anchored vessel, longer than 50 m
Day sign (1 black sphere)
Anchored vessel, shorter than 50 m
Anchored sailing boat
Aground
Aground, longer than 50 m
Day sign (3 black spheres)
Towing
A power-driven vessel when towing shall exhibit:
two masthead lights in a vertical line. When the length of the tow,
measuring from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the
tow exceeds 200 metres, three such lights in a vertical line;
sidelights;
a sternlight;
a towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight;
when the length of the tow exceeds 200 metres, a diamond shape
where it can best be seen.
Tugboat longer than 50 m - tow longer than 200 m
Abeam, port side
Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern

(diamond shapes)
Tugboat shorter than 50 m - tow longer than 200 m
Abeam, port side

(diamond shapes)
Tugboat longer than 50 m - tow shorter than 200 m
Abeam,
port side

(no shapes)
Tugboat shorter than 50 m - tow shorter than 200 m
Abeam,
port side

(no shapes)
Towing an inconspicuous, partly

submerged object
An inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object, or combination of
such vessels or objects being towed, shall exhibit:
if it is less than 25 metres in breadth, one all-round white light at or

near the forward end and one at or near the after end except that
dracones need not exhibit a light at or near the forward end;
if it is 25 metres or more in breadth, two additional all-round white
lights at or near the extremities of its breadth;
if it exceeds 100 metres in length, additional all-round white lights
between these lights so that the distance between the lights shall not
exceed 100 metres;
a diamond shape at or near the aftermost extremity of the last vessel
or object being towed and if the length of the tow exceeds 200
metres an additional diamond shape where it can best be seen and
located as far forward as is practicable.
Tow shorter than 200 m, object shorter than 100 m
Abeam, port side
Tow longer than 200 m, object shorter than 100 m
Abeam, port side
Tow longer than 200 m, object longer than 100 m
Abeam, port side
Tow longer than 200 m, object longer than 100 m & wider than 25 m
Abeam, port side (note that often a fifth round white light in the center is added)
Ahead Astern
Tow longer than 200 m, any object size
Day sign, Abeam, port side
Pushing from ahead or towing alongside

When a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly
connected in a composite unit they shall be regarded as a power-driven
vessel and exhibit the normal lights.
A power-driven vessel when pushing ahead or towing alongside, except
in the case of a composite unit, shall exhibit:
two masthead lights in a vertical line;

sidelights;
a sternlight.
A vessel or object being towed shall exhibit:
sidelights;
a sternlight;
when the length of the tow exceeds 200 metres, a diamond shape
where it can best be seen.
Provided that any number of vessels being towed alongside or pushed
in a group shall be lighted as one vessel,
a vessel being pushed ahead, not being part of a composite unit, shall
exhibit at the forward end, sidelights;
a vessel being towed alongside shall exhibit a sternlight and at the
forward end, sidelights.
Pushing from ahead
Abeam, port side
Ahead Astern
Towing alongside
Abeam, port side
Ahead Astern
Fishing, Trawling
A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall
exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed below.
A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging

through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing
appliance, shall exhibit:
two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the
lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes
together in a vertical line one above the other;
a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a
vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit
such a light but may do so;
when making way through the water, in addition to the lights
prescribed hereh, sidelights and a sternlight.
when shooting nets, white light over white light (Flag Z by day);
when hauling nets, white light over red light (Flag G by day);
When nets are caught on the bottom, red light over red light (Flag P
by day)
Fishing vessel, trawling
Day sign

Optional white light if shorter Optional white light
than 50 m if shorter than 50 m
Fishing vessel, trawling, shooting nets (white over white, Z)
Day sign
Fishing vessel, trawling, hauling nets (white over red, G)
Day sign
Fishing vessel, trawling, nets caught on bottom (red over red, P)
Day sign
Trawling in span
When pair trawling, each vessel shows searchlights on water aiming
forward (Flag T by day).
Trawling in span, shooting nets
Ahead Astern
Fishing, other than trawling

A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:
two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the
lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with apexes together
in a vertical line one above the other;
when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 metres
horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex
upwards in the direction of the gear;
when making way through the water, in addition to the lights
prescribed here, sidelights and a sternlight.
Fishing vessel, other than trawling
Day sign
Purse seining
Purse Seiners will exhibit two all-round yellow lights in a vertical line,
flashing alternately.
Purse Seiner
Constrained by draught
A vessel constrained by her draught may, (and not “shall”!) in addition
to the lights prescribed for power-driven vessels, exhibit where they can
best be seen three all-round red lights in a vertical line, or as day sign a
cylinder.
Power driven vessel, underway, constrained by her draught
Day sign (black vertical

cylinder)
Not under command

A vessel not under command shall exhibit:
two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen;
two spherical shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen;
and
when making way through the water also normal sidelights and a
sternlight (not shown in the example below).
Vessel not under command, not making way through the water
Day sign (two black

spheres)
Sailing boat, no wind, no mechanical propulsion
Restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, except a vessel engaged

in mine clearance operations, shall exhibit:
three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen.
The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the middle
light shall be white;
three shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The
highest and lowest of these shapes shall be balls and the middle one
a diamond;
when making way through the water, also a masthead light or lights,
sidelights and a sternlight
Restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, not making way through the water
Day sign: two black spheres

and in the middle a black
diamond shape
Restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, making way through the water,

longer than 50 m
Dredging or underwater operations

A vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations, when restricted
in her ability to manoeuvre
Dredging or underwater operations, shorter than 50 m, not making way
Ahead, day signs Ahead Astern
Dredging or underwater operations, shorter than 50 m, making way
Dredging or underwater operations, longer than 50 m, making way
Small diving vessel

Small diving vessel
Day signs
or
Pilot boat
A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit:
at or near the masthead, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the

upper being white and the lower red;
when underway, in addition, sidelights and a sternlight; as shown in
the example below.
Pilot boat, shorter than 50 m
Abeam, starboard side Ahead Astern
Hovercraft
An air-cushion vessel when operating in the non-displacement mode
shall, besides a masthead light forward, (plus a masthead light abaft if
longer than 50 m) sidelights and a sternlight, exhibit an all‑round
flashing yellow light (faster than 2 flashes per second).
A hydrofoil ferry or high speed catamaran ferry when acting as ferry is
often also allowed under local regulations to exhibit an all-round
flashing yellow light.
Hovercraft, longer than 50 m
Minesweeper
A vessel engaged in mine clearance operations shall in addition to the
lights prescribed for a power-driven vessel, or to the lights or shape
prescribed for a vessel at anchor, exhibit three all-round green lights or
three balls. One of these lights or shapes shall be exhibited near the
mast head and one at each end of the fore yard. These lights or shapes
indicate that it is dangerous for another vessel to approach within 1000
metres of the mine clearance vessel.
Minesweeper, shorter than 50 m
Ahead, day signs (3 black spheres) Ahead Astern
Use the logo to navigate through this course,
or download the complete navigation course as PDF - including

practice materials, exercises and answers.
17 August 2017
© 2000 – 2017 Diederik Willemsen |
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Lights and Shapes: Definitions

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10/11/2017 Lights, buoys - aids to navigation.

Charterguide Masthead light

Yellow flashing light

Optional white light

Power-driven vessel underway

a masthead light forward;

Power driven vessel underway, longer than 50 m

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Power driven vessel underway, shorter than 50 m

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Sailing vessels underway and vessels

A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:

In a sailing vessel of less than 20 metres in length the lights may be

A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights, exhibit at or

A sailing vessel of less than 7 metres in length shall, if practicable,

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Sailing and Motoring

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Day sign (1 black sphere)

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Anchored vessel, shorter than 50 m

Day sign (1 black sphere)

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Anchored sailing boat

Day sign (1 black sphere)

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Day sign (3 black spheres)

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Tugboat longer than 50 m - tow longer than 200 m

Abeam, port side

Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern

Tugboat shorter than 50 m - tow longer than 200 m

Abeam, port side

Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern

Tugboat longer than 50 m - tow shorter than 200 m

Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern

Tugboat shorter than 50 m - tow shorter than 200 m

Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern

Towing an inconspicuous, partly

if it is less than 25 metres in breadth, one all-round white light at or

Tow shorter than 200 m, object shorter than 100 m

Abeam, port side

Tow longer than 200 m, object shorter than 100 m

Abeam, port side

Tow longer than 200 m, object longer than 100 m

Abeam, port side

Tow longer than 200 m, any object size

Day sign, Abeam, port side

Pushing from ahead or towing alongside

two masthead lights in a vertical line;

A vessel or object being towed shall exhibit:

Pushing from ahead

Abeam, port side

Abeam, port side

A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging

Fishing vessel, trawling

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Fishing vessel, trawling, shooting nets (white over white, Z)

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Fishing vessel, trawling, hauling nets (white over red, G)