Towing Lights on Commercial Vessels (2024)

FAQs

Towing Lights on Commercial Vessels? ›

When commercial vessels are towing or pushing a barge, they display one or more yellow lights in place of a sternlight. There may be an unlit space of several hundred yards between the lights displayed on the bow and stern of the composite formed by the commercial vessel and its barge(s).

VESSELS ENGAGED IN TOWING AND PUSHING

The yellow stern light is placed above the usual white stern light. The length of the tow is measured from the bow of the towing vessel to the stern of the tow.

(iii) When vessels are towed alongside on both sides of the towing vessel, a sternlight shall be exhibited on the stern of the outboard vessel on each side of the towing vessel, and a single set of sidelights as far forward and as far outboard as is practicable, and a single special flashing light.

Vessels Towing

If the length of tow is less than 200m the towing vessel shows two all round white lights or a diamond shape and a yellow stern light. The vessel being towed shows their normal lights. If the length of tow exceeds 200m, then they display three all round white lights.

(d) “Towing light” means a yellow light having the same characteristics as the “sternlight” defined in paragraph (c) of this Rule. (e) “All-round light” means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees.

(e) A vessel towed or if more than one vessel is towed the last vessel of the tow, if manned, shall at intervals of not more than 2 minutes sound four blasts in succession, namely one prolonged followed by three short blasts.

An all-round white light or both a masthead light and a sternlight. These lights must be visible from a distance of at least two miles away on a dark, clear night. The all-round white light (or the masthead light and sternlight) must be visible from all directions in a 360-degree circle.

Applying the Rule(s) and comments: In accordance with Rule 21 (d) (Definitions), "towing light " means a yellow light having the same characteristics as the "sternlight " defined in Rule 21 (c) (Definitions).

A black daylight signal Diamond shape indicating the ship navigation status (Vessel towing or Vessel being towed) as per the International Regulations of Preventing Collisions at Sea (ColRegs).

Which light or lights are all vessels required to display when moored? ›

All vessels are required to display a white light visible from all directions whenever they are moored or anchored outside a designated mooring area between sunset and sunrise.

Tugboat lights - Yellow lights

Is a navigation light used for towing. It's a yellow over a white navigation light placed at the forward end of a towing vessel or vessel being towed.

When commercial vessels are towing or pushing a barge, they display one or more yellow lights in place of a sternlight. There may be an unlit space of several hundred yards between the lights displayed on the bow and stern of the composite formed by the commercial vessel and its barge(s).

(ii) A vessel being towed alongside shall exhibit a sternlight and at the forward end, sidelights and a special flashing light.

Sidelights: These red and green lights are called sidelights (also called combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the side or head-on. The red light indicates a vessel's port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel's starboard (right) side.

All vessels are required to display a white light visible from all directions whenever they are moored or anchored outside a designated mooring area between sunset and sunrise.

A vessel or object being towed shall exhibit: sidelights; a sternlight; when the length of the tow exceeds 200 metres, a diamond shape where it can best be seen.

Towing light

Shows an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 135 degrees and fixed so the light can be seen 67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel.