Light, Shape & Sound Signals

International Communication Signals

Rule & Sound
Port Starboard Ahead Shape
Vessel
In restricted visibility,
Plus yellow Plus yellow at intervals of not
Rule 23 Flashing light Flashing light more than 2 minutes

Power-driven
Vessels Vessels over 50m Vessels over 50m Over 50m
underway Hovercraft less than 50m Hovercraft less than 50m None Making way
through the water

Vessels less than 7m Vessels less than 7m Underway

and 7kts underway Vessels less than 50m Vessels less than 50m and 7kts underway Under 50m but stopped

Rule 25 If not showing navigation If not showing navigation

lights, hand held torch lights, hand held torch
Sailing shown in time to shown in time to
Vessels Less than 7m prevent collision prevent collision Less than 7m Under both
sail & power

Rule 26

Fishing
Vessels
Trawling
Over 50m Less than 50m Less than 50m Over 50m
See also annex 11 underway & trawling underway & trawling underway & trawling underway & trawling Over 50m

Rule 26

Fishing Vessels
other than
Trawling Fishing vessels with non-trawling Fishing vessels with non-trawling Fishing vessels with non-trawling Fishing vessels with non-trawling
gear extended more than gear extended more than gear extended more than gear extended more than
See also annex 11 150m, not underway 150m, underway 150m, underway 150m, not underway Underway

Rule 27

Vessels not
under command

Rule 27

Vessels not
under command
making way
through the water

Rule 27

Power-driven
vessels
restricted in her
ability to
maneuver Not making way Making way Making way Not making way Making way

Rule 28

Vessels
Constrained
by draft

Rule 29

Pilot vessels
on pilot duty At anchor Under way Under way At anchor Underway At anchor

Bell and gong

Rule 30 signals as per
rule 38g plus:
Vessels
at anchor Vessels over 50m Vessels over 50m
may also show deck lights Vessels less than 50m Vessels less than 50m may also show deck lights on approach of
another vessel

Rule 30 Bell and gong

signals as per
Vessels rule 38h.
Aground

Rule 24 & 27 Towing and other situations Obstruction

Towing vessels shall exhibit a yellow towing light in this side
a vertical line above the stern light (Rule 21a & 24)
Vessel
"A" Flag Towing vessel over 50m, tow exceeds 200m less than
shown Safe to pass 50m engaged in
by vessels this side mine clearance.
engaged Towing vessels less than 50m, Do not pass nearer
in diving operations tow less than 200m Dredging or underwater operations. than 1000m either side.
(When making way shows navigation lights.)
Power-driven vessel pushing or towing alongside
excluding composite units less than 200m in length

High intensity lights

flashing Morse signal 'U'

Refueling, underway with

restricted maneuvering ability Seismic Survey vessel towing streamers, length of tow exceeds 200m, could exceed 8 kilometers Towing vessel over 50m, tow exceeds 200m, unable to alter course

Copyright 2003: Painstakingly and accurately illustrated by 3/O Clien G. Tolentino onboard mv Goviken, August 2003