Sailing and Power-Driven Vessel Lights

Sailing/Motor Sailing

• A sailing vessel less than 20m long can display combined sidelights and a sternlight (tricolour) at the masthead.
• The tricolour light must not be shown with any other lights.
• A vessel using both sails and engine is considered a power-driven vessel.
• A vessel using both sails and engine must display a conical shape during the day.
• A vessel using both sails and engine must show lights as a power-driven vessel at night.
• The tricolour light can only be illuminated when sailing.

Power Driven Vessel

• A power-driven vessel longer than 50m shows a masthead light forward, a second masthead light abaft and higher than the first, sidelights, and a sternlight.
• Power-driven vessels less than 50m long may show only one masthead light.
• Vessels less than 12m long may use a combined masthead and stern light.
• A power-driven vessel less than 12m may use an all-round light instead of the masthead light and sternlight.
• In US and Canadian waters, a power-driven vessel less than 7m long, with a maximum speed of less than 7 knots, may use only an all-round white light, plus sidelights if practicable.

At Anchor

• A vessel at anchor shows two all-round white lights, one forward, and the other at the stern.
• A ball shape is set forward during the day.
• Vessels less than 50m may show only one all-round light.
• By day, a vessel at anchor displays a ball.
• By night, a vessel at anchor displays white all-round light(s).

Fishing

• A vessel engaged in trawling shows a green all-round light above a white light, plus sidelights and a sternlight when making way.
• A masthead light is optional for vessels less than 50m engaged in trawling.
• A vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling shows a red all-round light above a white light, plus sidelights and a sternlight when making way.
• Vessels engaged in fishing do not show anchor lights when carrying out their work at anchor.
• Trawling vessels display power + green over white lights.
• Other fishing vessels display power + red over white lights.
• Vessels engaged in fishing, including trawling, show two cone shapes with apexes together during the day.
• Outlying gear greater than 150m is indicated by an additional cone shape or all-round light, set in the direction of the gear.

Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre

• A vessel restricted in its ability to manoeuvre shows red over white over red all-round lights, plus sidelights, masthead light(s), and a sternlight when making way.
• A vessel restricted in its ability to manoeuvre displays a ball-diamond-ball shape during the day.
• A vessel conducting dredging or diving work which restricts its ability to manoeuvre shows two all-round red lights, or two ball shapes to indicate the obstructed side, plus two all-round green lights/two diamond shapes on the clear to pass side.
• All round red/white/red lights in a vertical line, plus other appropriate lights are displayed at night.

Not Under Command

• A vessel not under command shows two all-round red lights mounted where they can best be seen.
• When making way through the water, a vessel not under command also shows sidelights and a sternlight.

Aground

• A vessel aground shows anchor lights, plus two all-round red lights, or three ball shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen.
• By day, a vessel aground displays three balls in a vertical line.
• At night, a vessel aground displays anchor lights plus two all-round red lights.

Diving Operations

• The international code flag "A" (white and blue swallow tail) indicates diving operations.

Constrained by Draught

• A vessel constrained by her draught shows the lights for a power-driven vessel, plus three all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen.
• By night, power lights plus three all-round red lights are displayed.
• By day, a cylinder shape is displayed.

Towing

• A towing vessel shows a yellow towing light and two masthead lights.
• A towed vessel shows sidelights and a sternlight.
• Extra masthead lights plus a yellow towing light are displayed for towing operations.
• A diamond shape is displayed on tug and tow during the day.