The rules of the road(IRPCS-International Regulation for Preventing Collision at Sea) is the guidance for all vessels.

It contain rules required for a vessel to safely navigate. It has 38 rules and 4 annexes. The lights and shapes are very important and are used during night time, restricted visibility and in day time respectively. Rules regarding lights and shapes are covered in rule 20 to 31, which is part B of the ROR.

*Part B

Lights and Shapes Rules 20-31

* Rule #21

Definitions(definitions of masthead lights, side light, allround light)

* Rule #22 Visibility of

Lights(arc of visibility of lights)

Rule #23 Power Driven Vessels Underway

Rule #24 Towing and Pushing

Rule #25 Sailing Vessels

Rule #26 Fishing Vessels

Rule #27 Vessels not under command / restricted in ability to maneuver

*Rule #28 Vessels

constrained by draft

*Rule #29 Pilot vessels

* Rule #30 Vessels

aground/at anchor

* Rule #31 Seaplanes and

WIG Craft

Determine the kinds of the vessels

Determine the classes of the vessels

Determine the motion of the vessels

Determine stand on/give way status.

Determination of target angle and course.

*Rules in this part shall be compiled within all weathers

and must display the proper lights from sunset to sunrise (night time) and in situation where there is limited visibility(restricted visibility). And the shapes must be display during sunrise to sunset(day time).

Masthead Light The 'masthead light' is a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing with an arc of 225 degrees.

*Sidelights
Sidelights are red (port side) and green (starboard side) lights than shine in an arc of 112.5 degrees from straight ahead to a point 22.5 degrees abaft the beam.

Stern Light The stern light is a white light placed as near as is practicable at the stern. The light shines in an arc of 135 degrees

Towing Light
The towing light is a yellow light placed as near as is practicable at the stern. The light shine in an arc of 135 degrees.

All-round Light
The all-round light (such as the white anchor light) shines in an arc of 360 degrees.

Flashing Light
"Flashing light" means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or more per minute.

All Round FLASHING Light

LIGHT Masthead Sidelight Stern light Towing All around Flashing

COLOR white red/green white yellow various yellow/blue

ARC 225 112.5 135 135 360 360

50M+ 6 nm 3 nm 3 nm 3 nm 3 nm 3 nm

12-50M 5(3) nm 2 nm 2 nm 2 nm 2 nm 2 nm

12M2nm 1nm 2nm 2nm 2nm 2nm

20

Power-driven vessel 50 meters or more in length underway shall exhibit 2 masthead lights Side lights 22 Stern light

Power-driven vessel less than 50 meters in length underway shall exhibit 1 masthead light Side lights 23 Stern light

24

Power-driven vessel towing astern - towing vessel less than 50 meters in length; length of tow exceeds 200 meters shall exhibit 3 masthead lights 1 Diamond shape Side lights in Daytime 25 Towing light Stern light

Vessel or object being towed - length of tow exceeds 200 meters shall exhibit Side lights A Diamond Shape in day time 26 Stern light

27

A sailing vessel underway Two all-round lights (upper red and lower green) sidelights and a stern light
28

No.1 Sailing vessel underway (side lights, stern light)

No.2 Sailing vessel underway less than 20 m.(combined side lights, stern light)
29 No.3 Vessel under oars (lantern)

*
30

Vessel less than 50 meters Vessel less than 50 in length engaged in meters in length trawling engaged in trawling making way shall exhibit-2 not making way shall allround light(green over exhibit-2allround white),side lights, stern light(green over white) light. 2 conical shape apex together
31

32

Vessel 50 meters or more in length engaged in trawling making way

shall exhibit a additional masthead light with the lights prescribed before in this rule
33

Vessel 50 meters or more in length engaged in trawling not making way

Vessel engaged in fishing Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling not other than trawling making way shall exhibit making way shall 2 allround light(red exhibitover white) 2 allround light(red over white) Side lights 2 conical shape apex Stern lights together
34

35

For either of the above, where there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, display an allround white light or a cone apex upward in the direction of the gear. 36

37

38

Vessel not under command making way shall exhibit 2 allround red light Sidelights Stern light

Vessel not under command not making way shall exhibit 2 allround red lights 2 black balls in day time
39

40

Vessel less than 50 meters restricted in ability to maneuver - making way shall exhibit 3 allround light in a sequence of red-white-red Sidelights stern light

Vessel less than 164 feet (50 meters) restricted in ability to maneuver - at anchor
Two balls with a diamond in the middle
41

42

Vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations restricted in ability to maneuver - making way with an obstruction on the starboard side
43

Vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations restricted in ability to maneuver - not making way with an obstruction on the starboard side

*
44

Vessel constrained by its draft shall exhibit 3 red lights in a vertical line Masthead lights A cylinder in day Sidelights time Stern light 45

46

*
47

Vessel engaged in pilotage duty underway shall exhibit 2 all round lights(white over red) Sidelights Stern light
48

Vessel less than 50 meters engaged in pilotage duty - at anchor

49

*
50

Vessel less than 50 meters at anchor shall exhibit A all-round white light
A ball in day time
51

Vessel at anchor with deck illumination - required for vessels 100 meters or more in length shall exhibit 2 all round white light( one at the forward & one at the aft)

Vessel 50 meters or more in length aground shall exhibit 2 all-round red lights 2 masthead lights(forward & aft)

Vessel less than 50 meters in length aground shall exhibit 2 all-round red lights A masthead light

3 ball in day time

52

53

54

Vessel 50 meters or more in length aground shall exhibit 2 all-round red lights 2 all round white light(fore & aft)

Vessel less than 50 meters in length aground shall exhibit 2 all-round red light A all round white light

3 ball in day time

55

56

* Lights must adhere to the standards listed in the following

chart: