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Rules of the RoadInternational/InlandLights & shapesRule 23-Power-driven vessels underway(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:(i) a Masthead light forward;(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;(iii) sidelights; and(iv) a stern light*note on side lights. Red is port side (left) and green is starboard side (right)
Rules of the RoadInternational/InlandLights & shapesRule 23-Power-driven vessels underway(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:(i) a Masthead light forward;(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;(iii) sidelights; and(iv) a stern light*note on side lights. Red is port side (left) and green is starboard side (right)
The lights a vessel displays at night define a lot about the vessel, length, aspect etc. Some 'special vessels' display lights that convey their activity. Some of these vessels can be 'underway' (Not tied up or anchored) but not 'making way' The special vessels are fishing vessels (red or green over white), vesels not under control (2 reds) and vessels with restricted ability to manoeuvre (red over white over red). These special vessels can be observed with their navigation lights off but the identifying lights on. This could be say 2 red all round lights. This would be underway but not making way. Switch the nav lights on and it would be making way. All other vessel types would be 'underway'. Cheers. thescr3am.
Power-driven vessels less than 65.6 feet long must exhibit a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side, in addition to an all-around white light, when underway between sunset and sunrise. These lights help other vessels determine the direction the vessel is moving and avoid collisions at night.
When away from the dock after sunset.
When away from the dock after sunset.
When away from the dock after sunset.
life preserver
If you are moving......green to starboard (right) red to port (left) white to aft (rear).If you are anchored......white all around.Rule 26Fishing Vessels(a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed by this rule.(b) 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;(i) 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 vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this shape exhibit a basket;(ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.(c) A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other; a vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this shape exhibit a basket;(ii)when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upwards in the direction of the gear.(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.(d) A vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing may exhibit the additional signals described in Annex II to these Regulations.(e) A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.
A vessel at sea is said to be underway.
A tugboat pulling a barge will display yellow lights when underway. Be careful not to go between the barge and the tugboat though!. There is a thin line connecting the two. A man once killed his whole family by hitting that line.
white over red are the lights for a pilot vessel.