Rules of the Road - USCG

Masthead, Side, Sternlight

Power Driven Vessel, <50m

2 masthead, stern, and sidelights

Power Driven Vessel, >50m

Side lights and All Around lights

Power Driven Vessel <12m

All Around Lights and Sidelights

Power Driven Vessels <7m and <7knts (Int. Only)

flashing yellow lights, 2 masthead, stern, and sidelights

Submarines

flashing blue light, masthead, side, and sternlights

Law Enforcement Vessel (Ind)

masthead, side, sternlight, and flashing yellow light

Hovercraft, Non-Displacement Mode

high intensity flashing red light

WIG craft taking off or landing

2 vertical masthead lights, sidelights, sternlights, yellow tow light

Towing Vessel, Tow is <200m

3 vertical masthead lights, yellow tow light, sidelights, sternlights

Towing Vessel, Tow is >200m

forward sidelights and sternlight

Vessel Being Towed <200m

forward sidelights, sternlights, dayshape

Vessel Being Towed >200m

masthead, side, and sternlight
*treated like a standard power-driven vessel

Composite Vessels

all around lights forward and aft

Partially Submerged Vessel Being Towed, <25m wide and <100m long

all around lights forward, aft, and beam

Partially Submerged Vessel Being Towed >25m wide and <100m long

all around lights forward and aft, and every 100m

Partially Submerged Vessel Being Towed <25m wide and >100m long

all around lights forward, aft, and beam lights and every 100m

Partially Submerged Vessel >25m Wide and >100m long

2 masthead lights, sidelights, and sternlights

Vessel Pushing Ahead or Towed Alongside - Int.

2 towlights and sidelights, NO masthead or sternlights

Vessel Pushing Ahead or Towing Alongside - Ind.

forward sidelights- add flashing yellow light if inland

Vessel Being Pushed Ahead

sidelights, sternlights- add flashing yellow light if inland

Vessel Towed Alongside

flashing yellow along pipe, solid red lines at each end

Dredge Pipelines

all around white lights at bow and stern

Barges Towed in a Group

all around white light

Sailing Vessel <7m or Under Oars

allowed to use tricolor light

Sailing Vessels <20m

masthead, side, and sternlight (if Ind. no dayshape needed)

Motorsailing <12m

Side, stern, and mastheadlights

Motorsailing <50m

2 masthead, stern, and sidelights

Motorsailing Vessel >50m

G/W all around lights

Trawling, Not Making Way

G/W all around, side, sternlights

Trawling <50m Making Way

G/W all around light, 2 masthead, side, sternlights

Trawling >50m Making Way

R/W all around

Fishing Not Making Way

R/W all around, side, and sternlights

Fishing Making Way

all around white light, dayshape over gear in addition to normal lights and dayshape

Fishing Vessel with Gear Out >150m

R/R all around lights

Vessel Not Under Command, Not Making Way

R/R all around lights, side, sternlights

Vessel Not Under Command, Making Way

masthead, side, sternlights, don’t show Hotel Flag

Pilot Vessel Making Way Off Duty

W/R all around, sidelights, sternlights

Pilot Vessel Making Way On Duty

W/R all around lights, anchor lights and shape

Pilot Vessel at Anchor

R/W/R all around lights, G/G and two black diamonds on clear side, R/R and two black balls on obstructed side

Dredging/ Underwater Operations

R/W/R all around light and Alpha Flag

Diving Operations, not able to display normal lights

3 G all around lights, masthead, side, and sternlights

Mine Clearing Vessels <50m

3 G all around lights, 2 masthead, side, sternlights

Mine Clearing Vessels >50m

R/W/R all around lights

Restricted in Ability to Maneuever, Not Making Way

R/W/R all around light, white all around lights (amount depending on length)/ dayshape

Vessel Restricted in Ability to Maneuever Anchored

R/W/R all around lights, side, sternlights, and masthead lights depending on length

Vessel Restricted in Ability to Maneuever

R/R/R all around, masthead, side, and sternlights

Vessel Constrained by Draft <50m

R/R/R all around, 2 masthead, stern, and sidelights

Vessel Constrained By Draft >50m

white all around light

<7m - <50m Vessel at Anchor

two white all around lights

50-100m Vessel at Anchor

2 white all around lights, all deck lights

Vessels at Anchor >100m

White all around light

Vessel Aground <12m

White all around light, R/R all around light

Vessel Aground 12m-50m

2 white all around light: one forward and one lower aft

Vessel Aground >100m

International Sound Signal

I am altering my course to starboard

International

I am altering my course to port

Both

I am operating astern propulsion

Inland

I intend to leave you on my port side

Inland

I intend to leave you on my starboard side

Inland, overtaking in a narrow channel

I propose overtaking you on your starboard side

Inland, overtaking in a narrow channel

I propose overtaking you on your port

Both

Danger Signal, I don’t understand the action you are about to take

One prolonged

Approaching a bend that obscures sight/ Leaving berth (inland)

International

I intend to overtake you on your starboard side

international, overtaking in a narrow channel

I intend to overtake you on your port side

international

Agree to action being proposed

Restricted Visibility, intervals of 2 min

Power Driven Vessel Making Way

Restricted Visibility, intervals of 2 min

Power Driven Vessel, Not Making Way

Restricted Visibility, intervals of 2 min

Pilot Vessel, optional

Restricted Visibility, intervals of 2 min

Manned Tow

Restricted Visibility, intervals of 2 min

Vessel Not Under Command, Restricted in Ability to Maneuever (and at anchor), Constrained by Draft, Sailing, Towing, Fishing (and at anchor)

3 strokes bell, 5 sec rapid ringing, 3 strokes bell at 1 minute intervals

Vessel Aground Sound Signal

5 sec bell (and at 5 sec of gong aft if >100m)

Vessel at Anchor Sound Signal