lights + dayshapes

The rules concerning lights shall be complied with from …

→ sunset to sunrise

→ and sunrise to sunset in restricted visibility or in any other circumstances deemed necessary

The rules concerning day shapes shall be complied with …

→ the rules concerning day shapes shall be complied with by day

Masthead light definition. Colour, arc, position

→ colour = white

→ arc = 225× 22.5 abaft the beam on either side

→ placed over the fore and aft centerline

Sidelights. Colour, Arc, position

→ Colour = red port, green starboard

→ Arc = each light 112.5* and 22.5* abaft the beam

→ position = green light on stbd side. Red light on port side

→ for vessels less than 20m sidelights may be combined into one lantern carried on the fore and aft centerline

Sternlight. colour, arc, position

→ Colour = white

→ arc = 135* × 67.5* from the aft either side

→ as near as practicable to the stern

Towing light. Colour, arc, position

→ colour = yellow

→ arc = 135* 67.5* from aft to either side

(Same as sternlight)

→ position = in a vertical line above the sternlight

All-around light. Colour, arc, position

→ colour = not specified

→ arc = 360*

→ position = not specified

Flashing light

→ 120 flashes or more per minute

→ colour = not specified

→ arc = not specified

→ position = not specified

Special flashing light. Colour, arc, position (can mod)

→ 50 to 70 flashes per min

→ colour = yellow

→ arc = between 180 and 225 degrees to show from right ahead to beam or 22.5 abaft beam

→ position = as far forward and as nearly practicable in the fore and aft centerline

Blue flashing light. Colour, arc, position (can mod)

→ flashes 50-70 per minute

→ colour = blue

→ arc = 360*

→ position = not specified

Visibility of lights

	50m and over	20m and over but under 50m	12m and over but under 20m	Under 12m
Masthead	6 miles	5 miles	3 miles	2 miles
Sidelight	3 miles	2 miles	2 miles	1 mile
Sternlight	3 miles	2 miles	2 miles	2 miles
Towing light	3 miles	2 miles	2 miles	2 miles
All around light	3 miles	2 miles	2 miles	2 miles

→ inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed. all around white light = 3 miles

(Can mods)

→ a special flashing light = 2 miles

→ a blue flashing light = 2 miles

Lights for power driven vessel

→ Power driven vessel shall carry

• A Masthead light forward

• Side lights

• A sternlight

• A second masthead light abaft of and higher then forward one (optional for vessel under 50m) mandatory for vessels 50m or more

→ (Great Lakes)

→ instead of second masthead light and sternlight

• may carry an all around white light or two such lights placed not more than 800mm apart horizontally and shall be visible from any angle of approach and the same minimum range as a masthead light

Optional lights for power driven vessel less than 12m

→ may use normal lights for power driven vessel

→ may exhibit an all around white light and side lights in lieu of lights for PDV

→ masthead light or all-around white light may be displaced from fore and aft centerline if fitting is impracticable provided

• sidelights are carried in one lantern

• Sidelights are on fore and aft centerline or on the same centreline as the masthead/all around white light

*can mod, says vessel must have sidelights

→ Power Driven Vessel less than 7m may use all around white light and if practible sidelights in lieu of PDV lights provided it …

• maximum speed does not exceed 7kn

lights for an Air Cushion Vehicle

→ carries lights for PDV

→ when operating in non-displacement mode, lights for PDV + an all around flashing yellow light (120 flashes Pm)

Lights for a WIG

→ carries lights for a PDV

→ when taking off and landing in addition to PDV lights an all around flashing red light (flashes 120pm)

Lights for towing vessel

→ Towing vessel (tow 200m or less)

• two masthead lights in vertical line

• Sidelights

• Sternlight

• Towing light vertically above sternlight

• (If vessel 50m or more) abaft of and higher a 3rd masthead light

→ towing vessel (tow over 200m)

• three masthead lights in a vertical line

• Sidelights

• Sternlight

• Towing light vertically above stern light

• A diamond shape where it can best be seen

• (If vessel 50m or more) abaft of and higher a 4th masthead light

Lights for vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside

→ pushing ahead or towing alongside

• two masthead lights in a vertical line

• Side lights

• A sternlight

• (If vessel 50m or more) a 3rd masthead light abaft of and higher

(No towing light)

→ (great lakes) pushing ahead or towing alongside

• two masthead lights in a vertical line

• Sidelights

• Two towing light in a vertical line

• (If vessel 50m or more) a 3rd masthead light abaft of and higher

NOTE* only difference for Great Lakes, 2 towing lights in vertical line instead of sternlight.

Lights for an object or vessel being towed

→ object or vessel being towed

• sidelights

• Sternlight

• If Length of tow over 200m a diamond shape where it can best be seen

→ (can modifications) where it is impractical for a barge being towed to comply with the rules above it shall

• carry one all-around white light at each end

• (for the case of two or more barges grouped together it shall carry)

• one all-around white light at each end of the group

• if length of group exceeds 100m an additional all-around white light as close as practicable to the mid-point of the group

Lights for a vessel being towed alongside or pushed

→ any number of vessels being towed alongside or pushed ahead shall be lit as one vessel

→ lights for a vessel(s) pushed ahead

• sidelights (on the forward end)

→ lights for a vessel(s) being towed alongside

• sidelights (on the forward end)

• Sternlight

→ (Great Lakes) for a vessel being pushed ahead, all the lights above +

• a special flashing light exhibited at the forward end of the vessel

NOTE* Great Lakes rule does not specify for towing alongside. Only says special flashing light for a vessel being pushed ahead

Lights for an inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object

→ less than 25m breadth

• 1 all around white light at or near the forward end

• 1 all around white light at or near the after end

• Except Dracons don’t require forward light

→ 25m or more in breadth

• 2 additional lights at the extremities of its breadth

→ 100m or more in length

• additional all around lights between the lights described above so that the distance between lights shall not exceed 100m

→ for any length in addition to the lights above

• a diamond shape at or near the aftermost extremity

• if length of tow exceeds 200m an additional diamond shape located as far forward as practicable

→ (can mod) where it is impractical for a log tow to comply with the rules above, the log tow shall exhibit

→ less than 25m in breadth

• one all around white light at near the forward end

• one all around white light at or near the after end

→ less than 25m in breadth, more than 100m in length

• one additional white light at or near the mid point of the length

→ 25m or more in breadth

• a total of four all-around lights, one at or near each corner

→ 25m or more in breadth, exceeding 100m in length

• additional all-around white lights at or near the mid-point of each side of the length

sailling vessel

→ a sailling vessel underway shall exhibit

• sidelights

• a stern light

• a red all-around light above a green all-around light at or near the top of the mast (optional) cannot be used with combined lantern

→ sailling vessel less than 20m

• may combine sidelight and stern light into one lantern at or near the top of the mast (optional, can just use lights above)

→ a sailling vessel less than 7m

• shall if practicable exhibit the lights above, but if not, have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision

→ a vessel under oars

• may exhibit the lights for a sailling vessel, if not

• an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision

→ a vessel proceeding under sail, when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit at the forward end a conical shape apex downwards

→ (Can Mod)

• a vessel less than 12m in length when proceeding under sail and machinery is not required to display the conical shape apex downwards, but may do so

lights for Vessel engaged fishing

*NOTE. no anchor lights for vessel engaged in fishing, only difference in lights is weather vessel is making or not making way

→ a vessel engaged in trawling

• two all round lights in a vertical line the upper being green and the lower white

• a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-around green light. (any size vessel may, 50m or more shall)

• sidelights and a stern light (only when making way)

• dayshape is two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line

→ additional signals for trawlers fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing

• only applies to trawlers fishing in close proximity to other trawlers

• vessels of 20m or more shall but less than 20m may exhibit the following lights

• when shooting their nets = two white lights in a vertical line

• when hauling their nets = one white light over one red light in a vertical line

• when net has come fast upon obstruction = two red lights in a vertical line

• when engaged in pair trawling = a searchlight directed forward and in the direction of the other vessel of the pair

• (can mod) when engaged in pair trawling = during daylight hours at the foremast the code flag T

→ a vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling

• two all round lights in a vertical line the upper being red and the lower white

• when there is outlying gear more than 150m horizontally from the vessel, an all-around white light or cone apex upwards in the direction of the gear

• side lights and a stern light (only when making way)

• dayshape is two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line

• optional signal for purse seiners in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing = two yellow lights in a vertical line that flash alternately every second, may only be exhibited when the vessel is hampered by its fishing gear

lights for a vessel not under command

→ vessel NUC

• two all-around red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen

• sidelights and a stern light (when making way)

→ day shape for vessel NUC

• two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen

lights for vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre

→ vessel RAM

• three all around lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen the highest and lowest being red and middle being white

• when making way, a masthead light or lights sidelights and a stern light

• when at anchor the lights for a vessel of its size at anchor

• day shape for RAM = three shapes in a vertical line the highest and lowest being balls and the middle a diamond

→ Power driven vessel engaged in a towing operation hampered by her tow

• exhibits normal lights/shapes for a vessel engaged in towing

• three all around lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen the highest and lowest being red and middle being white

• the day shapes for RAM, three shapes in a vertical line the highest and lowest being balls and the middle a diamond

  *NOTE. engaged in towing operation hampered by her tow does not turn off sidelights, stern light, and masthead light(s) when not making way

→ a vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations when restricted in her ability to manoeuvre

• three all around lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen the highest and lowest red and the middle white, or the corresponding day shapes

• when making way through the water sidelights sternlight, masthead light(s)

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

• two all round red lights or two balls in a vertical line to indicate the side on which the obstruction exists

• when at anchor only the lights described here

  *NOTE. no anchor lights

→ vessel engaged in diving operation and her size makes it impractical to display the lights for a vessel engaged in diving operations RAM

• three all-around lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen the highest and lowest being red the middle being white

• a rigid replica of the code flag A not less than one metre in height

*NOTE. exemption from every other light/shape

→ vessel engaged in mine clearance operations

• the lights prescribed for a power driven vessel

• the lights/shapes prescribed for a vessel at anchor

• three all-around green lights or balls one near the foremast head and one at each end of the fore yard, these lights indicate it is dangerous for another vessel to approach within 100 metres

→ vessel of less than 12m except engaged in diving operations shall not be required to exhibit the lights and shapes in this rule

lights for a vessel constrained by their draught

→ vessel constrained by draught

• lights prescribed for a power driven vessel

• three all-around red lights in a vertical line

• dayshape = cylinder

→ (can mod) no vessel is considered constrained by draught in Canada

lights for Pilot Vessels

→ vessel engaged on pilotage duty

• at or near the masthead, two all around lights in a vertical line the upper white and the lower red

• when underway, sidelights and a stern light

• when at anchor, the lights for a vessel at anchor and at or near the masthead two all around lights in a vertical line the upper white and the lower red

• when not engaged on Pilot duty, the lights for a power driven vessel

*NOTE. when engaged on Pilot duty and at anchor the identifying lights stay on along with the the normal anchor lights

lights for vessels at anchor

→ vessel at anchor

• in the fore-part an all-around white light or one ball

• at or near the stern and at a lower level than the forward light, and all-around white light

→ vessel less than 50m

-may exhibit an all-around white light where it can best be seen instead of the two fore and aft lights

→ vessel of 100m or more

• ine the fore part an all-around white light or ball

• at or near the stern and at a lower level then the forward light, an all around white light

• use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her deck (any size vessel may do but 100m or more shall)

→ vessel less than 7m in length (does not require anchor lights or shapes)

• not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate

• are not required to exhibit the lights or shapes in this rule

→ (can mod) barge or an inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object may exhibit the following instead of the fore and aft light and or the illumination of decks using working lights on a vessel 100m or more

• in the case of a barge. may display one all-around white light at each end of the group or if over 100m an additional light at the mid-point of the group

• in the case of an inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object the normal lights for an inconspicuous partly submerged vessel or object being towed

→ (can mod) a barge or an inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object when at anchor

• is not required to exhibit any light while located within a recognized mooring, storage or booming area that is not an area in or near a narrow channel or fairway or where other vessels normally navigate

lights for Seaplanes

→ where it is impracticable for a seaplane or a WIG craft to exhibit lights and shapes of characteristics or in the positions prescribed in the rules of this part

• she shall exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar in characteristics and position as is possible