A commercial vessel towing at night displays a white towing light above the stern of the towing vessel and a second white light at the stern of the tow. Additionally, the vessel should show a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side, as well as an all-round white light at the stern of the vessel being towed. These lights help indicate the vessel's activity and ensure safe navigation for other vessels.
A white light is the color of light that must be displayed on a vessel towing at night, I t must be displayed at 8.2 feet higher than the colored sidelights. It should have an all round white light visible for 2 miles.
All vessels at sea use a red light on the port side (left facing forward to front of vessel), and a green light on the starboard side (right).
yellow
The stern light on a vessel is typically white with a 135 degree cone of visibility. From the 1980 US Inland Rules only pilot vessels, vessels aground, vessels not under command or vessels with restricted maneuverability may show red astern. The combination and orientAtion of red and white all-around lights is dictated by category. A towing vessel shall have a yellow light above it's stern light whether towing behind or alongside. The 1972 International Rules do not provide for the yellow towing light astern when the towed vessel is alongside of the towing vessel. Lastly, a sailing vessel under 20 meters in length may at her option display an all-around red over green at her masthead. As a matter of common practice the author has never actually seen this.
Red lights indicate that someone in towing something. They could be blinking or just a red light.
red
The masthead light is typically white in color. It is displayed at the top of a vessel to indicate the presence of another vessel at night.
The starboard side of a vessel is indicated by a green light. This color is used to help identify the orientation and direction of the vessel, especially when navigating at night or in low visibility conditions. The port side, in contrast, is marked by a red light. Together, these colored lights help prevent collisions at sea.
Red
Green
This color used on Elizabeth Banks is Preference 9G, Light Golden Blonde.
yellow A common sight on many rivers and waterways are "tugs and tows". When a tug tows or pulls a barge they must display certain lights that identify what they are, and how they are proceeding. Knowing the difference is very important! A tug towing a barge at night might have several hundred feet of cable between the two vessels-cable that is impossible to see. If you don't know what the lights mean, you might think that they are two different vessels and attempt to pass between them at your peril. a tug less than 50 meters in length, with a length of tow under 200 meters. If the tug had the barge alongside, it would show two yellow stern lights, instead of a yellow over white stern light combination. ETA: Its more than just commercial vessels, that light applies to all vessels that have the ability to tow. Also its not just the color of the tow light, but also the rest of the lights that are required at night. Stern light, side lights, masthead lights (except above the Huey P. Long bridge.)