Lights and shapes

Definitions

 Masthead light
A white light placed over the fore and aft centreline of the vessel showing an
unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225° and so fixed as to show the
light from right ahead to 22.5° abaft 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 112.5° and so fixed as
to show the light from right ahead to 22.5° abaft the beam on its respective
side. In a vessel of less than 20 metres in length the sidelights may be
combined in one lantern carried on the fore and aft centreline of the 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 135° and so fixed as to show the
light 67.5° from right aft 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 360°.
 Flashing light
means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or more
per minute.

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 abaft of and higher than the forward one; except
that a vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit
such light but may do so;
 sidelights;
 a sternlight.

Power driven vessel underway, longer than 50 m

 Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Power driven vessel underway, shorter than 50 m

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Sailing vessels underway and vessels under oars

A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:

 sidelights;
 a sternlight.
In a sailing vessel of less than 20 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.

A sailing vessel of less than 7 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 vessel 1

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Sailing vessel 2
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Sailing vessel 3

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Sailing vessel 4
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

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

Day sign

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Anchoring
Anchored vessel, longer than 50 m
 Day sign (1 black sphere)

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Anchored vessel, shorter than 50 m

Day sign (1 black sphere)

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Anchored sailing boat

 Day sign (1 black sphere)

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 after end of the tow
exceeds 200 metres, three such lights in a vertical line;
 sidelights;
 a sternlight;
 a towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight;
 when the length of the tow exceeds 200 metres, a diamond shape where
it can best be seen.

Tugboat longer than 50 m - tow longer than 200 m

 Abeam, port side

Ahead, Day sign  Ahead Astern

(diamond shapes)

Tugboat shorter than 50 m - tow longer than 200 m

Abeam, port side

Ahead, Day sign  Ahead Astern
(diamond shapes)

Tugboat longer than 50 m - tow shorter than 200 m

Abeam, 
port side

Ahead, Day sign  Ahead Astern

(no shapes)

Tugboat shorter than 50 m - tow shorter than 200 m

 Abeam, 
port side

Ahead, Day sign  Ahead Astern

(no shapes)

Towing an inconspicuous, partly submerged

object
An inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object, or combination of such
vessels or objects being towed, shall exhibit:

 if it is less than 25 metres in breadth, one all-round white light at or near

the forward end and one at or near the after end except that dracones need
not exhibit a light at or near the forward end;
 if it is 25 metres or more in breadth, two additional all-round white lights
at or near the extremities of its breadth;
 if it exceeds 100 metres in length, additional all-round white lights
between these lights so that the distance between the lights shall not exceed
100 metres;
 a diamond shape at or near the aftermost extremity of the last vessel or
object being towed and if the length of the tow exceeds 200 metres an
additional diamond shape where it can best be seen and located as far forward
as is practicable.

Tow shorter than 200 m, object shorter than 100 m

 Abeam, port side

Tow longer than 200 m, object shorter than 100 m

Abeam, port side

Tow longer than 200 m, object longer than 100 m

Abeam, port side

Tow longer than 200 m, object longer than 100 m & wider than 25 m
 Abeam, port side

Ahead Astern

Tow longer than 200 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, 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 200 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

Fishing, Trawling
A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only
the lights and shapes prescribed below.

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 abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a
vessel of less than 50 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 if shorter than  Optional white light if shorter
50 m than 50 m

Fishing vessel, trawling, shooting nets (white over white, Z)

Day sign
Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Fishing vessel, trawling, hauling nets (white over red, G)

Day sign

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Fishing vessel, trawling, nets caught on bottom (red over red, P)

 Day sign

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Trawling in span
When pair trawling, each vessel shows searchlights on water aiming forward
(Flag T by day).
Trawling in span, shooting nets
 Ahead Astern

Fishing, other than trawling

A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, 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 150 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

Day sign

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Purse seining
Purse Seiners will exhibit two all-round yellow lights in a vertical line, flashing
alternately.
Purse Seiner

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Constrained by draught
A vessel constrained by her draught 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.
Power driven vessel, underway, constrained by her draught

Day sign (black vertical cylinder)

 Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Not under command

A vessel not under command shall 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 example 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, except a vessel engaged in mine
clearance operations, shall exhibit:

 three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The
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. The 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 50 m

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Dredging or underwater operations

A vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations, when restricted in her
ability to manoeuvre
Dredging or underwater operations, shorter than 50 m, not making way
Ahead, day signs Ahead Astern

Dredging or underwater operations, shorter than 50 m, making way

Ahead, day signs Ahead Astern

Dredging or underwater operations, longer than 50 m, making way

Ahead, day signs Ahead Astern

Small diving vessel

Small diving vessel

Day signs

 or 

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

Pilot boat
 A vessel engaged on pilotage 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 50 m

Abeam, starboard side Ahead Astern

Hovercraft
An air-cushion vessel when operating in the non-displacement mode shall,
besides a masthead light forward, (plus a masthead light abaft if longer than 50
m) sidelights and a sternlight, exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light (faster
than 2 flashes per second). 
A hydrofoil ferry or high speed catamaran ferry when acting as ferry is often
also allowed under local regulations to exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light.
Hovercraft, longer than 50 m

Abeam, port side Ahead Astern

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. These lights or shapes indicate that it is dangerous for another
vessel to approach within 1000 metres of the mine clearance vessel.
Minesweeper, shorter than 50 m

Ahead, day signs (3 black spheres) Ahead Astern