Rule 25

Sailing Vessels underway and Vessels under Oars

  1. A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:

    1. sidelights;

    2. a sternlight.

    Front View Port Side View
    Aft View Starboard Side View

  2. In a sailing vessel of less than 20 metres in length the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

    Front View Aft View

  3. A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, 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 permitted by paragraph (b) of this Rule.

    Front View Port Side View
    Aft View Starboard Side View

    1. A sailing vessel of less than 7 metres in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule, 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.

      Side View

    2. 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.

      Front View Aft View Front & Aft View

  4. A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.

Rule 26

Fishing Vessels

  1. A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.

  2. 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:

    1. 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;

      Day View
      if a vessel is 50 metres
      or more in length
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

    2. 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;

      Day View
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

    3. when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

      Day View
      if a vessel is 50 metres
      or more in length
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View


      Day View
      if a vessel is less than
      50 metres in length
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

  3. A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:

    1. 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;

      Day View
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

    2. 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;

      Day View
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

    3. when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

      Day View
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View


      Day View
      if there is outlying gear
      extending more than 150 metres
      horizontally from the vessel
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

  4. The additional signals described in Annex II to these regulations apply to a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing.

  5. A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.