SailingIssues
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Power-driven vessel underway.
↑ Power-driven vessel underway.
Sailing vessel underway configuration or
↑ Sailing vessel underway.
Configuration , and if sidelights are combined on the bow:
configuration
Vessel at anchor, less than
↑ Vessel at anchor – less than
Small towing vessel, long tow.
↑ Power-driven vessel towing astern
towing vessel less than m in length;
length of tow exceeds m.
composite unit underway
↑ Pushing: composite unit underway (ridged, so treated as a
single power driven vessel).
Vessel trawling not making way
↑ Vessel engaged in trawling – not making way.
Vessel trawling making way
↑ Vessel engaged in trawling – making way.
See Fishing – Trawling section above…
Vessel constrained dra draught
↑ Vessel constrained by her dra / draught.
RAM vessel, making way
↑ Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre – making way;
vessel less than m in length.
Dredging vessel, underway, obstruction on starboard
↑ Vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations when
restricted in ability to manoeuvre – making way with an
obstruction on the starboard side.
Diving vessel
↑ Small vessel engaged in diving operations.
Air-cushion vessel
↑ Air-cushion vessel when operating in the nondisplacement
mode – vessel less than m in length.
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Lights and shapes
Definitions
Masthead light
means a white light placed over the fore and a centreline of the vessel
showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ° and so
fixed as to show the light from right ahead to . ° aba 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 . °
and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to . ° aba the
beam on its respective side.
In a vessel of less than metres in length the sidelights may be
combined in one lantern carried on the fore and a centreline of the
Arcs of visibility of sternlight and sidelights
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 ° and so
fixed as to show the light . ° from right a 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 °.
Flashing light
means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of flashes or more per minute.
Colour legend
White light
Yellow light
Green light
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 aba of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel
of less than metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such light but may do
so;
sidelights;
a sternlight.
Power driven vessel underway, longer than m
Power driven vessel
longer than m top
Power driven vessel Power driven vessel Power driven vessel
longer than m abeam longer than m ahead longer than m astern
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Power driven vessel underway, shorter than m
Power driven vessel
shorter than m top
Power driven vessel Power driven vessel Power driven vessel
shorter than m shorter than m shorter than m
abeam ahead astern
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Power-driven vessel underway – less than m in Day sign under sail with engine running is a conical
length shape pointing downwards.
↑ Power-driven vessel underway – less than m in length ↑ 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 vessels underway and vessels
under oars
A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:
sidelights
a sternlight
In a sailing vessel of less than 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.
4 lights configurations sailing
Sailing vessel
Sailing vessel top
Sailing vessel abeam Sailing vessel ahead Sailing vessel astern
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Sailing vessel
Sailing vessel top
Sailing vessel abeam Sailing vessel ahead Sailing vessel astern
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Sailing vessel
Sailing vessel top
Sailing vessel abeam Sailing vessel ahead Sailing vessel astern
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Sailing vessel
Sailing vessel top
Sailing vessel abeam Sailing vessel ahead Sailing vessel astern
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Sailing vessel underway configuration Sailing vessel underway configuration
↑ Sailing vessel underway – less than meters in length. ↑ Sailing vessel underway.
Configuration Configuration
A sailing vessel of less than 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 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
Sailing and motoring day
Day sign
sign
Sailing and motoring Sailing and motoring Sailing and motoring
abeam ahead astern
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Anchoring
A vessel at anchor shall according to Rule (a) (b) ↗ exhibit where it can best be seen:
in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in Rule (a)(i), an all-
round white light.
Anchored vessel, longer than m
Power driven vessel
Day sign
longer than m
( black sphere)
anchored day sign
Power driven vessel Power driven vessel Power driven vessel
longer than m abeam longer than m ahead longer than m astern
anchored anchored anchored
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Anchored vessel, shorter than m
Power driven vessel
Day sign
shorter than m
( black sphere)
anchored day sign
Power driven vessel Power driven vessel Power driven vessel
shorter than m shorter than m shorter than m
abeam anchored ahead anchored astern anchored
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Anchored sailing boat
Anchored sailing vessel Day sign
Day sign ( black sphere)
Anchored sailing vessel Anchored sailing Anchored sailing
abeam vessel ahead vessel astern
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
m Vessel anchored deck illumination Vessel aground, less than m
m in length. ↑ Vessel at anchor with deck illumination. ↑ Vessel aground – less than m in length.
Aground
A vessel aground shall according to Rule (d) ↗ exhibit the lights prescribed in Rule (a) or (b) and in addition, if practicable, where
they can best be seen;
two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
three balls in a vertical line.
Aground, longer than m
Power driven vessel
Day sign
longer than m
( black spheres)
aground day sign
Power driven vessel Power driven vessel Power driven vessel
longer than m abeam longer than m ahead longer than m astern
aground aground aground
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
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 a er end of
the tow exceeds metres, three such lights in a vertical line; Rule ↗;
sidelights;
a sternlight;
a towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight;
when the length of the tow exceeds metres, a diamond shape where it can best be seen.
Tugboat longer than m – tow longer than m
Abeam, port side
Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern
(diamond shapes)
Tugboat shorter than m – tow longer than m
Abeam, port side
Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern
(diamond shapes)
Tugboat longer than m – tow shorter than m
Abeam,
port side
Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern
(no shapes)
Tugboat shorter than m – tow shorter than m
Abeam,
port side
Ahead, Day sign Ahead Astern
(no shapes)
Small towing vessel, short tow. Vessel or object being towed, long tow
↑ Power-driven vessel towing astern ↑ Vessel or object being towed – length of tow exceeds m.
towing vessel less than m in length;
length of tow m or less.
Towing an inconspicuous, partly submerged object
An inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object, or combination of such vessels or objects being towed; Rule (g) ↗, shall exhibit:
if it is less than metres in breadth, one all-round white light at or near the forward end and one at or near the a er end except that
dracones ↗ need not exhibit a light at or near the forward end;
if it is metres or more in breadth, two additional all-round white lights at or near the extremities of its breadth;
if it exceeds metres in length, additional all-round white lights between these lights so that the distance between the lights shall
not exceed metres;
a diamond shape at or near the a ermost extremity of the last vessel or object being towed and if the length of the tow exceeds
metres an additional diamond shape where it can best be seen and located as far forward as is practicable.
Tow shorter than m, object shorter than m
Abeam, port side
Tow longer than m, object shorter than m
Abeam, port side
Tow longer than m, object longer than m
Abeam, port side
Tow longer than m, object longer than m & wider than m
Abeam, port side (note that o en a fi h round white light in the center is added)
Ahead Astern
Tow longer than 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; Rule (c) ↗, 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 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
Pushing, not composite unit underway Vessel being towed alongside.
↑ Pushing: vessel being pushed ahead, not being part of a ↑ Vessel being towed alongside.
composite unit.
Fishing – Trawling
A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed below; Rule ↗
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 aba of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 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
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Optional white light Optional white light if Optional white light Optional white light if
shorter than m shorter than m
Fishing vessel, trawling, shooting nets (white over white)
Day sign • Flag Z
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Fishing vessel, trawling, hauling nets (white over red)
Day sign • Flag G
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Fishing vessel, trawling, nets caught on bottom (red over red)
Day sign • Flag P
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Vessel trawling not making way, less than m Vessel trawling making way, less than m
↑ Vessel engaged in trawling – not making way; vessel less than ↑ Vessel engaged in trawling – making way; vessel less than m
m in length. in length.
Trawling in span
When pair trawling, each vessel shows searchlights on water aiming forward (Flag T by day); Rule (f ) (b)ǂ( ) ↗
Trawling in span, shooting nets
Ahead Astern
Fishing, other than trawling
A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling , according to Rule (c) ↗ 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 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, outlying gear > m
Day sign
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Vessel fishing other than trawling, making way Vessel fishing other than trawling, not making way
↑ Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling – making way. ↑ Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling – not making
way.
Purse seining
Purse Seiners ↗ will exhibit two all-round yellow lights in a vertical line, flashing alternately; Rule (f ) ǂ(iii) ↗
Purse seiner fishing vessel
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Constrained by draught
A vessel constrained by her draught / dra 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, Rule ↗
Power driven vessel, underway, constrained by her draught
Day sign (black vertical cylinder)
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
NUC vessel: Not Under Command NUC vessel: Not Under Command – making way
↑ Vessel not under command “NUC” – not making way. ↑ Vessel not under command “NUC” – making way.
Not under command
A vessel not under command, sometimes knows as a NUC ℹ vessel, shall according to Rule (a) ↗ 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 examples below).
Vessel not under command, not making way through the water
Day sign (two black spheres)
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Sailing boat, no wind, no mechanical propulsion
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, sometimes knows as a RAM ℹ vessel, except a vessel engaged in mine clearance
operations, shall according to Rule (b) ↗ exhibit:
three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. e 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. e 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
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, making way through the water, longer than m
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
RAM vessel, anchored Towing RAM vessel
↑ Vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre – at anchor; vessel ↑ Vessel engaged in towing operation which severely restricts
less than m in length. towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their
course – length of tow does not exceed m; towing vessel less
than m in length.
Dredging or underwater operations
A vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations, when restricted in her ability to manoeuvre; Rule (d) ↗, shall exibit
two all-round red lights or two balls in a vertical line to indicate the side on which the obstruction exists;
two all-round green lights or two diamonds in a vertical line to indicate the side on which another vessel may pass; and
when at anchor (or not making way), the lights or shapes prescribed in this section instead of the lights or shapes prescribed in Rule
Dredging or underwater operations, shorter than m, not making way
Ahead, day signs Ahead Astern
Dredging or underwater operations, shorter than m, making way
Ahead, day signs Ahead Astern
Dredging or underwater operations, longer than m, making way
Ahead, day signs Ahead Astern
Dredging vessel, not making way, obstruction on Dredging vessel, not making way, obstruction on port
starboard ↑ Vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations when
↑ Vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations when restricted in ability to manoeuvre – not making way with an
restricted in ability to manoeuvre – not making way with an obstruction on the port side.
obstruction on the starboard side.
Small diving vessel
Rule (e) ↗
Small diving vessel
Day signs
or
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Pilot vessel underway Pilot vessel at anchor
↑ Vessel engaged on pilotage duty – underway. ↑ Vessel engaged on pilotage duty – at anchor; vessel of less than
m in length.
Pilot boat
Rule , 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 m
Abeam, starboard side Ahead Astern
Hovercraft, hydrofoil ferry
An air-cushion vessel when operating in non-displacement mode shall, besides a masthead light forward, (plus a masthead light aba if
longer than m) sidelights and a sternlight, exhibit an all‑round flashing yellow light (faster than flashes per second). Rule (b) ↗
 Also a hydrofoil ferry or high speed catamaran when acting as ferry is o en allowed under local regulations to exhibit an all-round
flashing yellow light.
Hovercra , longer than m
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern
Mineclearance vessel Mineclearance vessel
↑ Vessel engaged in mineclearance operations – vessel less than ↑ Vessel engaged in mineclearance operations, port side.
m in length, starboard side.
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. ese lights or shapes indicate that it is dangerous for another vessel to
approach within metres of the mine clearance vessel. Rule (f ) ↗
Minesweeper, shorter than m, making way
Ahead, day signs ( black spheres) Ahead Astern
Overview
Overview day signs lights vessels
↑ Overview of most commonly encountered lights and day signs.
Lights are all-round except where indicated.
+ See all chapters
Also you can download the exercises + answers PDF PDF download
September
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