Rule 27

Vessels not under Command or Restricted in their Ability to Manoeuvre

  1. A vessel not under command shall exhibit:

    1. two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen;

      Front & Aft View Side View

    2. two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen;

      Day View

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

      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

  2. A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, except a vessel engaged in mineclearance operations, shall exhibit:

    1. 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;

      Front & Aft View Side View

    2. 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;

    3. when making way through the water, a masthead light or lights, sidelights and a sternlight, in addition to the lights prescribed in subparagraph (i);

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


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

    4. when at anchor, in addition to the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii), the light, lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30.

      if a vessel is less than 50
      metres in length
      if a vessel is 50 metres
      or more in length

  3. A power-driven vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course shall, in addition to the lights or shapes prescribed in Rule 24 (a), exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraphs (b) (i) and (ii) of this Rule.

    Day View
    is a vessel is 50 metres
    or more in length and
    the length of the tow
    exceeds 200 metres
    Front View Port Side View
    Aft View Starboard Side View

  4. A vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations, when restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, shall exhibit the lights and shapes prescribed sub-paragraphs (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Rule and shall in addition, when an obstruction exists, exhibit:

    1. two all-round red lights or two balls in a vertical line to indicate the side on which the obstruction exists;

    2. two all-round green lights or two diamonds in a vertical line to indicate the side on which another vessel may pass;

      Day View
      if a vessel making way
      through the water is
      50 metres or more in length
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View


      Day View
      if a vessel NOT making
      way through the water
      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

    3. when at anchor, the lights or shapes prescribed in this paragraph instead of the lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30.

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

  5. Whenever the size of a vessel engaged in diving operations makes it impracticable to exhibit all lights and shapes prescribed in paragraph (d) of this Rule, the following shall be exhibited:

    1. 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;

    2. a rigid replica of the International Code flag "A" not less than 1 metre in height. Measures shall be taken to ensure its all-round visibility.

  6. A vessel engaged in mineclearance operations shall in addition to the lights prescribed for a power-driven vessel in Rule 23 or to the lights or shape prescribed for a vessel at anchor in Rule 30 as appropriate, exhibit three all-round green lights or three balls. One of these lights or shapes shall be exhibited near the foremast head and one at each end of the fore yard. These lights or shapes indicate that it is a dangerous for another vessel to approach within 1000 metres of the mineclearance vessel.

    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

  7. Vessels of less than 12 metres in length, except those engaged in diving operations, shall not be required to exhibit the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.

  8. The signals prescribed in this Rule are not signals of vessels in distress and requiring assistance. Such signals are contained in Annex IV to these Regulations.

Rule 28

Vessels constrained by their Draught

A vessel constrained by her draught may, in addition to the lights prescribed for power-driver vessels in Rule 23, exhibit where they can best be seen three all-round red lights in a vertical line, or a cylinder.

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

Rule 29

Pilot Vessels

  1. A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit:

    1. at or near the masthead, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being white and the lower red;

    2. when underway, in addition, sidelights and a sternlight;

      Front View Port Side View
      Aft View Starboard Side View

    3. when at anchor, in addition to the lights prescribed in subparagraph (i), the light, lights or shape prescribed in Rule 30 for vessels at anchor.

      if a vessel is less
      than 50 metres in length
      if a vessel is 50 metres
      or more in length

  2. A pilot vessel when not engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed for a similar vessel of her length.

Rule 30

Anchored Vessels and Vessels aground

  1. A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

    1. in the tore part, an all-round white light or one ball;

    2. at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in sub-paragraph (i), an all-round white light.

  2. A vessel of less than 50 metres in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

  3. A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.

  4. A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen:

    1. two all-round red lights in a vertical line;

      if a vessel is less
      than 50 metres in length
      if a vessel is 50 metres
      or more in length

    2. three balls in a vertical line.

  5. A vessel of less than 7 metres in length, when at anchor not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.

  6. A vessel of less than 12 metres in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in sub-paragraphs (d) (i) and (ii) of this Rule.

Rule 31

Seaplanes

Where it is impracticable for a seaplane to exhibit lights and shapes of the characteristics or in the positions prescribed in the Rules of the Part she shall exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar in characteristics and position as is possible.