Vessel Greater Than 50 Meters

Shall
May

Masthead light foreward

2nd masthead light abaft
and higher than the
forward one
sidelights
sternlight

When operating on the

Great Lakes an all-around
white light in lieu of a 2nd
masthead light +
sternlight

Vessel less than 50 meters

Shall

May
Masthead light forward
Sidelights
Sternlight

2nd masthead light abaft

and higher than the
forward one
When operating on the
Great Lakes, an all-around
white light in lieu of a 2nd
masthead light +
sternlight

Air Cushion Vessel operating in non-displacement mode

Shall

May
Masthead light forward
If vessel is greater than or
equal to 50 meters, a 2nd
masthead light abaft and
higher than forward one
Sidelights
Sternlight
All-around yellow flashing
light

If vessel is less than 50 m,

a 2nd masthead light abaft
and higher than the fwd
one

Air Cushion Vessel operating in displacement mode

Shall

May
Masthead light forward
If vessel is greater than or
equal to 50 meters, a 2nd
masthead light abaft and
higher than forward one
Sidelights
Sternlight

If vessel is less than 50 m,

a 2nd masthead light abaft
and higher than the fwd
one

WIG- taking off and landing, and in flight near surface

Shall

May

Masthead light forward

If vessel is greater than or
equal to 50 meters, a 2nd
masthead light abaft and
higher than forward one
Sidelights
Sternlight
High intensity all-around
flashing red light

Power Driven Vessel less than 12 meters

Shall

May
Masthead light
Sternlight
Sidelights

In lieu of masthead light

and sternlight, display an
all-around white light

Power driven vessel less than 7 meters, speed not exceeding 7

knots COLREGS ONLY
Shall

May
Masthead light
Sternlight
Sidelights, if practicable

In lieu of masthead lights

and stern light, display an
all-around white light

Power Driven vessel on the Great Lakes

Shall

May
Masthead light
If vessel 50 m, a 2nd
masthead light abaft and
higher than forward light
Sternlight
Sidelights

Carry an all-around white

light in lieu of a 2nd
masthead light and
sternlight

Power Driven vessel towing (astern) COLREGS and Inland

Shall

May
Two masthead lights in a
vertical line
If length of tow >200m,
three masthead lights in a
vertical line
Sidelights
Sternlight
Towing light above
sternlight
Length of tow > 200m, a
diamond shape

If vessel is less than 50 m,

a 2nd masthead light abaft
and higher than the fwd
one

Pushing Vessel and vessel being pushed are one composite

unit
Shall

Regard as power driven

vessel and exhibit lights
as such

May

None

Power Driven Vessel pushing ahead COLREGS

Shall

May
Two masthead lights in a
vertical line
Sidelights
Sternlight

If vessel is less than 50 m,

a 2nd masthead light abaft
and higher than the fwd
one

Power Driven Vessel pushing Ahead Inland

Shall

May

Two masthead lights in a

vertical line
Sidelights
Two towing lights in a
vertical line

If vessel is less than 50 m,

a 2nd masthead light abaft
and higher than the fwd
one

Vessel or object being towed

Shall

May

Sidelights
Sternlight
When length of tow
exceeds 200m, a diamond
shape

None

Vessel or object being towed alongside or pushed

Shall

At the fwd end, sidelights


May

(towed alongside)
sternlight

None

Vessel Being Pushed Ahead Inland

Shall

May
Fwd end sidelights
Special flashing light

None

Vessel being towed Alongside

Shall

May
Sternlight
At the fwd end, sidelights
Special flashing light

None

Inconspicuous, partially submerged vessel or object being

towed Inland
Shall

May
If <25m in breadth, one
all-around white light at or
near fwd end and one at
after end
If >25m in breadth, 4 all
around white lights to
mark length and breadth
If >100m in length,
additional lights so that
the distance between
lights does not exceed
100m.
A diamond shape at or
near aftermost extremity

Inland Only: a searchlight

in the direction of tow

PDV pushing ahead or along side north of Huey P. Long Bridge

Shall
Sidelights
Two towing lights

May

None

Inconspicuous, partially submerged vessel or object being

towed COLREGS
Shall

May
If <25m in breadth, one
all-around white light at or
near fwd end and one at
after end
If >25m in breath, two
additional all-around white
lights at or near
extremities
If >100, in length,
additional lights so that
the distance between
lights does not exceed
100m.
A diamond shape at end
of tow
If tow exceeds 200m, a
diamond shape at from of
tow

Dracones dont need a

light at the fwd end

Sailing Vessel Underway

Shall

May
Sidelights
Sternlight
If vsl <7m, a flashlight or
similar if not displaying
sidelights and sternlight

If <20m, a tri-color light in

lieu of sidelights and
sternlight
Sailing task light: red over
green at top of mast

Vessel Under Oars

Shall

May
Flashlight

Sailing lights

Vessel Engaged in Trawling

Shall

May
Trawling task lights (green
over white)
If vsl 50m, a 2nd
masthead light abaft and
higher than the first
Sidelights (making way)
Sternlights (making way)

If vessel is less than 50 m,

a 2nd masthead light abaft
and higher than the fwd
one

Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling

Shall

May
Fishing task lights (red
over white)
If gear outlying >150m,
an all-around white light in
direction of gear, or cone
apex up in direction of
gear
Two cones apexes
together
Sidelights (making way)
Sternlight (making way)

None

Vessel not under Command

Shall

May
Two all-around red lights
Two balls or similar
Sidelights (making way)
Sternlight (making way)

None

Vessel Restricted in Ability to Maneuver

Shall

May
RAM task lights (Red white
red)
Day shape (ball diamond
ball)
Masthead light (making
way)
Sidelights (making way)
Sternlight (making way)
Anchor lights (at anchor)

None

Dredging or underwater operations

Shall

May
Two red lights or balls
(obstruction side)
Two green lights or
diamonds (safe water)
Ram lights
Sidelights (making way)
Sternlight (making way)
Masthead light (making
way)
Anchor Lights (At anchor)

None

Diving Ops
Shall

May
RAM lights
Rigid replica of A flag

None

Mine Clearance
Shall

May

Three green lights in a

cross
Three balls in a cross
Masthead light forward
If vessel is greater than or
equal to 50 meters, a 2nd
masthead light abaft and
higher than forward one
Sidelights
Sternlight
Anchor lights (at anchor)

None

CBD
Shall

May
Masthead light forward
If vessel is greater than or
equal to 50 meters, a 2nd
masthead light abaft and
higher than forward one
Sidelights
Sternlight

Three all-around red lights

in a vertical line

Pilot Vessels
Shall

May
Pilot task light (white over
red)
Sidelights (underway)
Sternlight (underway)
Anchor lights (at anchor

None

At anchor
Shall

May

All-around white light or

one ball
At or near stern a lower
all-around white lights
vsl >100m light deck with
deck lights

If vsl <50m, one allaround white light

All vsls light deck with
deck lights

Vessel Aground
Shall
Two all around red lights in
a vertical line
Three balls in a vertical
line
All-around white light or
one ball
At or near stern a lower
all-around white lights
vsl >100m light deck with
deck lights

May

If vsl <50m, one allaround white light

All vsls light deck with
deck lights