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Part C · Lights and shapes

COLREGS Rule 26 — Fishing Vessels

(a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule.

(b) A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other ;

(ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;

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

(c) A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with apexes together in a vertical line one above the other;

(ii) when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 metres horizontally from the vessel, an all- round white light or a cone apex upwards in the direction of the gear;

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

(d) The additional signals described in Annex II to these Regulations apply to a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing.

(e) A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.

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All COLREGS Rules and Annexes

Part A · General

Part B · Steering and sailing rules

Part C · Lights and shapes

Part D · Sound and light signals

Part E · Exemptions

Part F · Verification of compliance

Annex I · Positioning and technical details of lights and shapes

Annex II · Additional signals for fishing vessels fishing in close proximity

Annex III · Technical details of sound signal appliances

Annex IV

COLREGS oral exam questions and answers — all 114 examiner-style questions on one page, Rule by Rule, as a drill you mark yourself.

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An independent study aid built by CryoSim from the text of the 1972 Collision Regulations as amended. It is not an IMO publication and is not endorsed by the IMO — for navigation and legal purposes, use the official text.