Navigation lights — quick reference

COLREG 1972, Rules 20–31. This is a memory-jogger, not a substitute for reading the rules.

• Power-driven vessel underway (>50m)
  Masthead (white) + second higher masthead abaft, sidelights (green stbd/red port), sternlight (white).
• Power-driven vessel underway (<50m)
  One masthead (white), sidelights, sternlight.
• Sailing vessel underway
  Sidelights + sternlight. Optional red-over-green at masthead.
• Vessel at anchor (<50m)
  One all-round white forward.
• Vessel at anchor (>50m)
  All-round white forward + another all-round white aft, lower.
• Vessel aground
  At-anchor lights + two all-round red in vertical line.
• Towing (length of tow < 200m)
  Two masthead (white) in vertical line, sidelights, sternlight, towing light (yellow) above sternlight.
• Towing (length of tow > 200m)
  Three masthead (white) in vertical line + sidelights + sternlight + towing light.
• Fishing (not trawling)
  Red over white all-round in vertical line + sidelights + sternlight when making way.
• Trawling
  Green over white all-round in vertical line + sidelights + sternlight when making way.
• Not under command
  Two all-round red in vertical line; if making way, also sidelights and sternlight.
• Restricted in ability to manoeuvre
  Red-white-red all-round in vertical line.
• Constrained by draught
  Three all-round red in vertical line, in addition to lights for a power-driven vessel.
• Pilot vessel
  White over red all-round + sidelights + sternlight when underway.